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6 of the worst dressed NBA players ever: from James Harden’s OTT drip and Dirk Nowitzki’s ‘old man’ ‘fits, to Tim Duncan’s Birkenstocks and jorts and Kyle Kuzma’s ‘laughably oversized’ Raf Simons

Being stylish on court is very different than being stylish off it, as these NBA stars prove ... pictured are Dirk Nowitzki, Kyle Kuzma and Gradey Dick. Photos: Instagram

From their “tunnel walk” looks on the way to the locker room, to their NBA draft suits and general off-duty style, the men who average 198cm tall already stand out from the crowd – and some are leaning into it.

But not everyone is impressed with the looks that basketball’s wealthiest decide to rock in public. Drew Gooden never lived down his Dr Evil-esque NBA draft outfit that reportedly had 48 buttons on its front, and TikTok has had a field day recently dissecting players’ most garish outfits.
Viewers quickly pointed out that Drew Gooden’s NBA draft outfit resembled Dr Evil’s getup in the Austin Powers films. Photo: @TacoTreyKerby/X

So, without further ado, here are six of the worst dressers in the NBA – at least, according to the internet.

1. Gradey Dick

Gradey Dick is a half step away from costume dressing. Photo: @gradey/Instagram

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick is only 20 years old, so he still has plenty of time to learn, but even his fans have noticed a discrepancy between his game play and his ability to dress himself. “Love your game but your drip is very questionable,” one user wrote on an Instagram photo the star shared of himself in oversized trousers with an elasticated waistband and a baseball jersey.

But it was his glittery red, game show host-style suit for draft day that drew the most ire. “It’s almost honestly so tacky that it’s amazing,” TikTok NBA commentator Molly Morrison joked.

2. Dirk Nowitzki

Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki (centre) and Kobe Bryant posing for an NBA All-Star portrait in 2008. Photo: @hoopingtalk/Instagram

With career earnings of US$242 million, according to Forbes, German former NBA player Dirk Nowitzki really has no excuse for wearing such drab outfits, which mostly consist of “slacks” and “button-downs”, in his words on X (formerly Twitter).

Accused by fellow player Chandler Parsons of “dressing like an old man”, he even shared a photo of himself in 2017 in an oversized beige turtleneck, jeans and black dress shoes asking if he should keep the jumper or throw it out. Needless to say, commenters on X had plenty to say in response.

3. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan may be a great basketball player, but he’s definitely not a good dresser. Photos: @hoopsnation/Instagram, @NotThtImportnt/X

Sports Illustrated deemed NBA All Star Tim Duncan’s personal style to be so “astoundingly terrible” that when he retired, the publication took the opportunity to rank his top 10 “most egregious fashion crimes”. Particular lowlights included his truly enormous and uninspiring yellow checked shirts, and the jorts and Birkenstocks combo he wore to pick up his 2002 MVP trophy.

4. James Harden

While men’s mags might reach a consensus on James Harden’s terrible fashion, at least he’s audacious. Photos: @JHarden13/X, @fashionbombdaily/Instagram
In a crushing 2021 survey of 28,000 people, the LA Clippers’ hugely talented James Harden nabbed the top spot as the league’s worst dressed player, per men’s mag Cassius Lifestyle. A case in point? A Cookie Monster-esque Marni ‘fit that consisted of an oversized jacket with leather panelling and blue fur jeans. “I be wanting to go to the Met Gala, but I’m always in the play offs this time of year,” the athlete joked on X.

5. Zion Williamson

The internet is not impressed by Zion Williamson’s style – or rather lack thereof. Photos: @SportsCenter/X

New Orleans Penguins’ Zion Williamson’s injury struggles have given his fans repeated opportunities to examine his courtside style – and if their comments are anything to go by, they’re not impressed. His anime-themed outfits, neon Timbs, distressed jeans and fedora combos led one NBA TikTokker to go as far as to say that “everybody on the internet [is] consistently amazed with his ability to put together the most terrible ‘fits”.

6. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma’s high fashion taste is lost on NBA watchers. Photo: @NBACentral/X, @highsnobiety/Instagram
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma may be model Winnie Harlow’s boyfriend and the proud owner of a fly watch collection, but high fashion has always been divisive, and NBA watchers think he often goes too far – from his “laughably oversized” Raf Simons jumper to his knitted rainbow balaclava.

His message to the haters, per Brobible? “If I do something that people don’t like or get people talking – hey, at least I gave them something to talk about today.”

  • Sports fans love to dissect NBA players’ performance on court, but recently their outfits have been picked apart just as mercilessly on TikTok, Twitter and fan forums
  • From Gradey Dick’s glittery draft day suit and Zion Williamson’s anime jacket, to James Harden’s Marni ‘fit that made him look like the Cookie Monster, here are some of NBA players’ worst looks