admin Devin Booker might have the most pleasing aesthetic in the NBA. From his soothing nature-pic-filled Instagram feed to his classic car collection–his taste, much like game, is refined. It only makes sense that his first signature shoe matches his understated-yet-stylish vibe.
The Nike Book 1, which the three-time All-Star will debut on the court this season, looks more like an off-court shoe than the ones his peers wear. That’s intentional: the design draws inspiration from the Air Force 1 as well as one of his restored classic cars-a ‘72 Chevy Blazer K5 he nicknamed “Uncle Larry.”
With a new signature shoe, and a new-look Suns team that includes a (healthy) Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Devin Booker may be shooting for his biggest NBA season yet. GQ caught up with the Suns star to talk about how drawing shoes as a kid prepared him for his new role as a designer, owning a life-size KD Fathead, and how his off-court style is 1-of-1.
GQ Sports: You’re the latest NBA player to launch a signature shoe. How cool is it that you get to lace up your own shoes on the court this season?
Devin Booker: Top of the top when it comes to career accomplishments. Sneakers have always been a part of my childhood. I’ve always dreamed of it. I’d draw sketches and create logos when I was a kid. Now to see it all come full circle and come to life—it’s hard to put into words.
I heard that as a kid, you used to regularly design shoes using NikeID, but never buy them–is that true?
I used to draw a lot, but once NikeID became a thing, I just let loose. I would make a bunch of NikeID shoes and never be able to order them. I would have a cart full of different colorways and different designs—basically like a Christmas wish list.
Were there signature shoes that were important to you growing up? What’s the first one you remember wanting?
I was a release date guy. I knew every sneaker that was released every year. I wore a lot of KDs. Especially in high school, which is another full-circle moment now that we’re teammates.
Does KD know this about you?
He does know that. I talk about it with him all the time. I know he’s bringing back some retro styles this year. I’ve seen the colors that he’s bringing in the locker room and I’m like “Yo, this is nostalgia right here. I would have fought somebody for these a few years ago, and now I’m sitting right next to you.”
Tell me more about Book 1. What was the design process like and how involved were you?
Very involved. We started looking for a theme or a phrase for the shoe, and the consistent theme was “future classic.” We wanted something that would be able to live 20 years from now. I wanted it to feel collected with all the materials. It’s a classic silhouette, but I’m more excited for people to feel the performance of them. We are trying to transcend off the court, and make a shoe. Not just a lifestyle shoe, not just a basketball shoe, but something people can feel comfortable rockin’ around, and playing basketball if they feel like doing that too.
Before launching your shoe, you always were wearing Kobes on the court. Especially Kobe 4s, 5s and 6s. Did you draw any inspiration from those Kobes in your new shoe?
I drew inspiration from all Kobe models, but especially the ones I’ve been playing in the past few years—Kobe 4, 5, and 6. They had a designer on the team named Eric Avar who started at Kobe 4. They have a thing on (Nike) campus, called Nike DNA, where they keep all the archived pieces—things that have never seen the light of day. It’s my favorite room on the entire campus. I just sit there, and it’s like class. They broke down each person’s line, and I was in there with Eric, and he broke down Kobe’s inspiration all the way through his line. It was a really special moment for me. The shoes are obviously totally different. Kobe wanted to use technology as the design, and my technology is on the inside with a classic mold on the outside.
I want to ask you about your style a bit—a lot of people say you are one of the best-dressed players in the league. What does getting ready with Devin Booker look like before a game?
I try to make it easier on myself and do my own proper fitting at the start of each month, so I have looks together, but nothing definite, because you never know what that day is going to bring. It’s more of a mood thing. Whenever I wake up from my pregame nap—however I feel.
Are there any accessories you can’t forget or that are most important to you when picking out an outfit?
I’d say my rings are staples. If I don’t have one or I forget one in my locker—I feel like I’m naked. I don’t wear much jewelry, so the little pieces I have and my little hoops are the most consistent.
Do you change your style depending on where you are playing? Like do you dress up for certain cities?
Yeah, it also depends on mood. It depends on what the weather is like. If we’re on a win streak, I might bring out some jewelry. Obviously, in the bigger or more fashion-forward cities, you like to put on a little bit. I like to do uniform dressing, so I try to keep it consistent all the way through.
Playoffs are usually a time you like to dress up. Where do you take inspiration for that?
Just inspiration from the past. That was the time in the past where everybody brought out their suits. Usually Game 1 I like to get proper, and put a button-up on—maybe a suit—and drive one of my classic cars in.
Speaking of your insane classic car collection—any new purchases this off-season?
I got two new Chevy Blazers. ‘72 Chevy Blazers. All original colors. One is like a mustard yellow, and the other is a forest green. They are two I’ve been looking for a long time, and I found them.
What about the Suns as a whole? Are you guys the best-dressed team in the league?
We have some cool cats on the teamthey’re comfortable. I love what KD is doing now. He’s smooth and comfortable everywhere he goes. We have a new team, so I have to see how these guys dress. I’ll let you know next year.
Talking about your new teammates—what do you think about the new-look Suns? What are you looking forward to the most playing with KD and Bradley in particular?
I’d say the competition level. I’ve been a big fan of those guys for a really long time, so just seeing how they operate. Iron-sharpens-iron mentality. Just keep it highly competitive between us. I know we all have a great deal of respect for each other. But we plan to keep pushing each other. I think that’s the domino effect, and everyone else will follow suit if they see us all getting after it.
KD has openly said the reason he went to the Suns was to play with you. What does that mean to you that he came to Phoenix to be your teammate?
It’s hard to put into words. A guy I have a great deal of respect for, and always have. I don’t know if this is public information, but I used to have a Fathead of him in my room. I used to go to sleep looking at KD every night on my wall. Now we’re teammates. I also have a tweet from 2011 or 2012 where I said KD is my favorite player, so all just real full-circle moments. I take it in and embrace it. It’s something 20 or 25 years ago I would have thought was crazy as hell.
