NBA, WNBA Draft fashion: The most wild, weird and wonderful get-ups in history
We look back on some of the wild, weird and wonderful get ups in draft history and speaks to Aussie Georgia Amoore about her incredible WNBA draft collab with NBA great Russell Westbrook.
From Aussie Dyson Daniels’ show-stopping sequined number to the man who would become the “gold” standard in the game today ... the players fits steal the show at the NBA draft.
Code Sports looks back on some of the wild, weird and wonderful get ups in draft history and speaks to Aussie Georgia Amoore about her incredible WNBA draft collab with NBA great Russell Westbrook.
LOOKING BACK ON A ‘CRAZY’ AUSSIExNBA FASHION COLLAB
Drafted sixth overall by the Washington Mystics, Ballarat’s Georgia Amoore was always going to be in the spotlight.
And her “crazy” team-up with former NBA MVP and Denver Nugget Russell Westbrook became one of the biggest talking points out of the event.
Westbrook, an NBA player whose high fashion edge matches his explosive play on the court, dressed Amoore in a bespoke black leather cropped blazer and matching mini skirt, both with white floral embroidery. He paired that with a special made-for-the event ‘Honor Women’ T-shirt from Westbrook’s brand, Honor The Gift, and loafers.
Amoore said the conversation with the Nuggets point guard bubbled for over a year as she completed her fifth college campaign and involved virtual calls and cross-country flights to perfect the look.
“We hopped on a couple of Zooms and he was like ‘text me any ideas you have,” Amoore said.
“I gave him the rundown, I wanted the cropped blazer, a skirt, maybe pants, but definitely a skirt.
“Then he (Westbrook) just got cooking.
“It wasn’t something for him to be like, ‘wear my outfit and cool that’s the deal’, he was so supportive, he sat there at the draft and the after party.
“I flew out to LA to get it fitted, which is insane. That week was a whirlwind, I’ve never felt more like a celebrity in my life, it was crazy.
“It was a surreal moment to get my draft outfit designed by an NBA player. You don’t ever think of that, that’s made up.”
With four Australians projected to land at NBA clubs in this week’s draft, Amoore has some advice for NBL Next Stars Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey, college prodigy Tyrese Proctor and NBL champion Lachlan Olbrich.
“A serious hot tip, it’s going to be a whirlwind, there’s going to be so many people demanding your attention, just make sure you take 5-10 minutes for yourself,” Amoore shared.
“Process what’s about to happen, be with your family.
“That’s one thing that I regret, I didn’t see my family that day until I was at the table.
“We didn’t have the time to process that, so take a couple of minutes to yourself to really digest that your life is about to change.”
CRAZY, CRINGE AND CLASSY
DYSON DANIELS
The newly-crowned NBA Most Improved Player dazzled the 2022 NBA Draft in a metallic silver suit Michael Jackson would have been proud of at his peak. What made the suit even more special was the lining of his jacket included a tribute to his family, with the names of his parents and brothers and a map of his hometown, Bendigo
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER
If you’re going to become the best player on the best team in the NBA, you may as well make a big first impression and the new MVP and finals MVP did just that in 2018 in a striking tan-gold intricate floral-patterned suit.
GRADEY DICK
Wow... Gradey had it covered at the 2023 draft in his gaudy ‘The Wizard of Oz’ inspired ruby red-slipper suit.
PAOLO BANCHERO
Paolo pulled out the purple people eater in 2022, in a striking, bright purple Dolce & Gabbana suit adorned with rhinestones. He paired the suit with a Richard Mille watch, bracelets, suede shoes, and a “P5” diamond-encrusted chain.
The colour was meant as a kind of tribute to his parents, who wanted him to go to the University of Washington.
JOSH GIDDEY
The Aussie phenom hit the 2021 draft and nailed it, as he always does in the fashion stakes. The striking blue tux with shiny black lapel and bow tie caught the eye and the white sneaks showed off his style adding a casual hoops vibe.
ALEX SARR AND DREW GOODEN
Apart from the fact it had no buttons, why does it feel like Drew Gooden’s 2002 kit wouldn’t look out of place on the classic Stallone-Bullock actioner Demolition Man.
Was former NBL Next Star and No.1 pick Alex Sarr channelling him last season?
ZION WILLIAMSON
Richie Benaud 12th Man special from 2019 No.1 draft pick Zion Williamson – the cream one, the bone, the off-white, the white, the ivory, or the beige, love.
ANDREW BOGUT AND THON MAKER
Eleven years is a long-time in fashion.
The first Australian to go No.1 in the NBA draft nailed it in 2005 in a classic black suit when Milwaukee called his name.
Fast forward to 2016 and the Bucks called fellow Aussie big Thon Maker’s name at No.13, his red plaid-on-pindot pattern far more out there than his compatriot.
BOL BOL
When you’re 221cm, you don’t really need to try to standout but Bol Bol decided to channel Venom Symbiote Spiderman in 2019 – a suit worth $10,000.
BEN SIMMONS
Once Australia’s great hope, 2016 No.1 pick Ben Simmons sported a conservative, classy tailored Brioni suit, with a gold tie and pocket square and a vest that added a ever-so-slight hint of the unique.
The game once matched the suit, until it all fell apart.
DANTE EXUM
The grey suit and vest stood out for the 2014 fifth overall pick out of Australia but it was his Down Under homage – a map of the country stitched into the lining – that really made this fit unique.
JOSH GREEN AND JOHNNY FURPHY
Was Josh Green dressed up or dressed down in 2020?
It didn’t really matter, the draft was a virtual one due to Covid.
Our current man-of-the-moment Johnny Furphy might have fallen at the final hurdle for the Indiana Pacers but he nailed it on draft night last year.
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