The future of basketball walked into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, decked out in suits from the likes of Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. The towering, baby-faced athletes were dressed in their best for the night of their lives: the NBA draft.
Their arrival at the draft was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. On the night of the draft, the young men could finally show up as who they always wanted to be. While a handful of players hired stylists to dress them, the majority chose their own outfits, from their jewelry to their nail polish, in an effort to show off their personality.
The NBA draft is historically a night full of surprises, from the team’s picks and sudden trades to the players’ unconventional outfits. It’s an evening full of suits, watches, jewelry and discreet messages sewn into the linings and sequins of the jacket. This is the rookie’s chance to make a statement before stepping onto the NBA hardwood for the very first time.
Zacharie Risacher
Drafted #1 by the Atlanta Hawks
Mr. Risacher, 19, wore a light gray Armani seersucker suit with a white shirt and white Nike Air Force Ones. His prerogative for the night? Comfort.
“I picked out all the parts of the outfit and it was fun to do,” said Mr. Risacher, who is from Lyon, France. “It was the first part of the process of NBA draft night. I feel ready to be called up.”
Alex Sarr
Drafted #2 by the Washington Wizards
Mr Sarr, 19, arrived in a cream-colored double-breasted Versace suit with gemstones for buttons and a matching shirt.
“I think it’s stylish and I think I’m a stylish man,” he said before hitting the red carpet. “It suits my energy for the night. I don’t really know what kind of energy cream it is, but it’s my energy, I guess. I can’t wait to see where I end up. It’s the NBA draft, it’s important.”
Reed Sheppard
Drafted #3 by the Houston Rockets
Another player with a penchant for simplicity was Mr. Sheppard, 20, who wore a sage green suit from State & Liberty paired with a Gucci tie and brown Christian Louboutin shoes.
“I like this suit,” Mr. Sheppard said. “It’s just simple. It’s clean. Nothing special about it. It’s just a nice, simple and clean suit.”
Stephen’s Castle
Drafted No. 4 by the San Antonio Spurs
Mr Castle, 19, made his surname come to life with a brilliant diamond chain and pendant in the shape of a castle. He wore a black double-breasted suit with a white speckled effect, which he said was made by his friend Julian.
“It certainly gives you a lot of confidence,” Mr Castle said. “If you walk around well dressed, you have a little self-confidence. This helps me a bit.”
Rob Dillingham
Drafted No. 8 by the San Antonio Spurs (traded to Minnesota)
Mr. Dillingham, 19, wore a stunning black suit from Seventh Heaven and Chrome Heart Converse sneakers and glasses.
“This is the beginning of my dreams,” Mr. Dillingham said. “I didn’t even think about the draft today, but when it was time, I got ready. I don’t think about the game, I just get into the game.”
Ron Holland
Drafted No. 5 by the Detroit Pistons
Mr. Holland, 18, asked his sister, Taorani, for help, and she did “a lot of the decision-making.” He arrived in a black Versace suit with sequins on the shoulder. It looked like he had been dipped in diamonds. He wore a necklace with a large medallion in the shape of an atom that had special meaning to him.
“It’s an energy piece,” he said. “It’s a unique opportunity, so I had to go a step further. It defines energy. Without the middle part of this, the core, none of this works properly. I feel like I definitely am.”
Carlton Carrington
Drafted No. 14 by the Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Washington)
18-year-old Mr Carrington, known to many as Bub, wore an all-black Dior suit and shirt. On the lapel of the suit, he attached a green ribbon pin to raise awareness about mental illness.
“You can’t do anything if your mind isn’t right, so that’s something we always have to focus on,” he said.
“Staying focused on what’s happening today is at least 50 percent of the reason I kept it simple,” he added. “The other reason is I feel like what you wear on draft day is kind of a representation of yourself. I’m a pretty simple guy, so I just want to wear a simple black suit.”
Kyle Filipowski
Drafted #32 by the Utah Jazz
Mr. Filipowski, 20, had photos of himself in his Duke University sweater inside the lining of his forest green suit, taken by Nota Bene.
“They helped make my vision a reality,” Mr. Filipowski said. “Be a little more stylish, but not too basic and not too flashy. It’s just very me. I’ve never really expressed myself much with fashion. This is one of the first times and I really love it. I feel super comfortable. I don’t feel strange at all.”
Devin Carter
Drafted #13 by the Sacramento Kings
Mr. Carter, 22, wanted to stay true to where he came from: West Palm Beach, Florida. That’s why he wore a baby blue double-breasted suit without a shirt. He dressed up in custom Cartier Chrome Hearts sunglasses and brown shoes. The look was put together by his stylist, he said.
“This represents me,” he said. “I’m a Florida boy.”
Kyshawn George
Drafted No. 24 by the New York Knicks (traded to Washington)
Mr George, 20, chose the fabrics used for his suit, designed by Alba. He wore a light beige jacket open with matching bootcut pants and an unbuttoned, cotton candy-colored shirt. A chain of opals danced across the collar, matching the various colors on his shirt. On his feet he wore Louis Vuitton sneakers. He wanted to keep it light, he said.
“I picked out the fabrics,” he said. “It just made me feel good. I liked the light textures and I feel comfortable.”
Donovan Clingan
Drafted #7 by the Portland Trail Blazers
Mr Clingan, 20, had the inside of his suit jacket decorated with family photos.
“I just wanted to have pictures of people who helped me get to this point, people who guided me, on the inside of my jacket,” he told reporters on the red carpet.
Matas Buzelis
Drafted #11 by the Chicago Bulls
Mr. Buzelis, 19, said his mother picked out his Yves Saint Laurent pinstripe suit.
“I feel like an ordinary person,” he said. “Even though I’m at YSL, this is normal for me.”
Tidjane Salaun
Drafted #6 by the Charlotte Hornets
For Mr. Salaun, 18, the experience was anything but ordinary. It was his first time in New York City and he felt small among the skyscrapers, he said. The Parisian wore a navy blue pinstripe suit, black tie and white shirt, a look he called “business class.”
“I’m excited to hear my name and enjoy the moment,” he said.
Tristan da Silva
Drafted #18 by the Orlando Magic
For Mr da Silva, 23, who wore a red and black Alba suit to represent the German flag, it was all about the suit’s lining. The sky blue and white Bavarian flag outlined the right side of his jacket, while the kelly green and yellow of the Brazilian flag outlined the left side of his jacket.
“I think it’s important to know where you come from and represent that. Without that I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I think it’s important to let people know because I may not be the most outspoken person about it. I try to stay humble, so I don’t go out and tell everyone how great I am, but I feel like I could pull it off. Let the suit do the talking for me.”
Cody Williams
Drafted #10 by the Utah Jazz
Mr. Williams, 19, wore a mahogany suit, glasses and shoes, all from Rhude.
“Look good, feel good, wear good,” he said as he polished his freshly manicured nails on his jacket. ‘You have to make sure everything is in tip top condition. I don’t actually get many mani pedis. It’s a first for me. They have the clear gel here to make it look natural. They did their thing. Maybe I’ll get another one after this.”
Johnny Furphy
Drafted #35 by the San Antonio Spurs
Mr Furphy, 19, wanted to pay tribute to his roots in the lining of his navy blue tuxedo. He did this by listing every Australian who has played in the NBA, including himself, although he had to wait a day to be selected as he was taken with the fifth pick of the second round.
“Australians are very proud of Australian basketball,” he said. “Clearly there aren’t many Australians. It’s pretty cool to be recognized and appreciated for being part of a small group.”
Ja’Kobe Walter
Drafted #19 by the Toronto Raptors
Mr. Walker, 19, wanted to send a message with his deep purple suit jacket.
“Royalty,” he said, his hair covering his eyes.
He paired the jacket with a black shirt and black pants and black Prada shoes and glasses.
“It feels crazy to be here, I’ve dreamed of this moment all my life,” he said. “This is what I looked like in my dreams, fresh.”
Nikola Topic
Drafted #12 by the Oklahoma City Thunder
The focus of many athletes is to stand out. The 18-year-old Mr. Topić did so in a burgundy Hugo Boss suit, white Golden Goose sneakers and an Audemars Piguet watch.
“I’m an easy-going person and Hugo Boss is the first suit I chose,” he said. “I want it to stand out somehow. Not to be black or blue, I also wanted some color. This was not so noticeable.”
Jared McCain
Drafted #16 by the Philadelphia 76ers
Mr McCain, 20, wore a cropped, double-breasted Dolce & Gabbana suit with a stunning brooch on the lapel. His nails were painted a glossy black.
“I had to do the nail polish, I went with a simple vibe,” he said. “I wish I could place the team I’m going to, but I have no idea.”
Dalton Knecht
Drafted #17 by the Los Angeles Lakers
Mr. Knecht, 23, wanted to keep the lining of his all-black Gucci suit a surprise until he was called on stage. This reporter managed to get a sneak peek before showing it on ESPN: It was his Tennessee Volunteers jersey.
“This is a unique opportunity,” he said before putting on the Louis Vuitton sunglasses. “To keep it simple, I’m going all black and with just a few pieces to stand out a bit. I’m going to do my own fashion. I would take a few bits here and there. But I like to keep it to myself. By Dalton.”
Yves Missi
Drafted #21 by the New Orleans Pelicans
Mr Missi, 20, felt a little uncomfortable being described by his friends as the king of Cameroon. The lining of his sky blue suit jacket, designed by Alba, encouraged the name. The outline of Cameroon was etched onto the suit’s buttons and used in a pattern in the jacket’s lining. A lion patch was also placed in the jacket.
“The lion is the animal of Cameroon,” he said. “I really like the way I look now. The color of the suit and all that.’
Isaiah Collier
Drafted #29 by the Utah Jazz
Mr. Collier, 19, kept it simple. He wore an all-black Dolce & Gabbana suit with a single silk lapel and a dazzling brooch. His necklace was a tribute to his late brother.
“Ready to rock and roll, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” he said.
Kel’el Ware
Drafted #15 by the Miami Heat
Mr Ware, 20, wore an all-black Alba suit with black Gucci loafers. He paired the look with a Rolex watch and an icy pinky ring.
“Look nice, feel good, especially for a big night,” he said. “Well, I’m more of a calm, laid-back guy. I didn’t want to go all out and do too much. I have remained original.”
