It’s been just a day since Nike launched its “Am I a bad person” campaign ahead of the Paris Olympics, and the NBA community is already buzzing about the sneakers of the Team USA basketball athletes. Coincidentally, fans noticed an uncanny detail in a viral image taken a day before the USA showdown with Australia in the exhibition game about a week ago. It was a picture of Boston Celtics stars Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Jayson Tatum proudly donning their Team USA jerseys with matching colorway sneakers.

Though Tatum’s sneakers seemed to be a modification of his Tatum2 shoe line, Jrue and Derrick’s shoes unexpectedly resembled WNBA guard Sabrina Ionescu’s Nike shoe designs. However, what baffled NBA fans was that the colorway did not seem similar to any of Sabrina’s existing designs. Eager to confirm if the shoes belonged to Sabrina’s shoe line, the press raised the question to the Liberty point guard herself at the WNBA All-Star press conference. Sabrina replied, “They had those shoes before me, I was like, that’s a cool colorway because I had not even had’em yet. So it was really cool.”

The press and the NBA community finally got their answer. Nike, Team USA’s official sponsor, had modified the shoes Jrue and Derrick were wearing to match the Team USA jerseys with Blue, White, and Red colors. Sabrina also noted, “Obviously, Jrue had been in the um in the ones last year. And so really cool to see that he was in the twos.” Jrue was wearing shoes from the Sabrina2 line in Team USA colors, and Derrick was also wearing “USA” Nike Sabrina Two PEs at practice.

Sabrina was thrilled that her shoe line was appreciated by male athletes. Despite being designed for female athletes, her shoes were worn by men, highlighting the differences in design due to anatomical variations.

But Nike’s attention to detail doesn’t stop with basketball stars; they’ve prepared exclusive gear for every Team USA athlete.

Nike’s preparation to protect team USA from the fashion police in the fashion capital of the world

Paris, set to host the Summer Olympics on July 26, is known as the fashion capital of the world, home to brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and Balenciaga. To ensure Team USA looks their best, Nike unveiled a 50-piece set for Team USA athletes including footwear, apparel, and accessories. This includes “interview wear” and “village wear” for media interactions and training, combining style with comfort.

Nike also designed a separate collection for medal ceremonies, ensuring athletes look their best while being photographed with their flags and singing the national anthem. Nike’s comprehensive Olympic campaign also includes specially modified kits for Paralympic athletes, catering to their unique needs.

With a diverse range of athlete bags, Nike ensures that Team USA makes a statement both on and off the field. What are your thoughts on Nike’s exclusive athlete bags for Team USA’s Olympic campaign? Let us know in the comments.