What Is the Meaning Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Converse Logo? Taking a Deep Dive Inside Thunder Star’s Business Move

At the start of his career, having a name that no one could get right on the first try was all Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was known for. Fast forward to 2025 and he now leads the NBA in scoring. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has certainly come a long way over the years. Nothing proves that better than the trust his collaborators, Converse have placed in him.

Shai’s deal with the global sneaker brand was on the cusp of running out. But both he and Converse made some quick and cunning moves to ensure that both of them remain profitable for years to come. And now Shai has released his custom sneakers with them. So let’s see what’s up with them and what makes his shoe one of a kind.

What is the meaning behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s logo? Who designed it?

We alluded to Converse trusting Shai at the beginning of this article. But how much do they trust him, you ask? Enough to name him their first-ever Creative Director of Converse Basketball. As the creative director, he can call his shots, which extend to him coming up with his signature logo.

At first glance, you may mistake his logo for the number ’27’. However, his logo features two stylized number twos stacked on top of each other, with the bottom one being inverted. This logo is a nod to the number he dons for the OKC Thunder. Simultaneously, it’s an homage to the dual identities within him, meaning his on and off-court personalities. The logo was displayed on billboards across the city of Toronto, Shai’s hometown.

We opine that the logo itself is very well-designed and Shai has done a job befitting the trust placed in him. And Converse probably believed so too since they just helped him release his first custom shoe.

What is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract with Converse?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander renewed his contract with Converse in April 2024. It was this renewal that saw him become their Creative Director of Basketball. And per the terms of his new deal, Converse and Shai were slated to release his signature footwear and apparel lines in 2025. Well, that time is now upon us as they just jointly released the Converse SHAI 001. “We gave Shai creative control over the design of the shoe in a way only Converse can. Then, we went to work leveraging the resources of Converse and all the innovation of Nike, Inc. to proudly deliver the SHAI 001,” said Jared Carver, the CEO and President of Converse.

The shoes feature a bold design, with a zipper on the tongue. There’s a locking mechanism in the show to enable multiple wear options. The SHAI 001 can be worn zipped, half-zipped, or flipped down. These shoes also have a bootie and a Ghillie lacing system that provide adjustability and better containment. It also features a Nike Zoom Air Bag in the forefoot to add spring to each step you take with them. Clearly, Shai knew what he was doing when designing this shoe.

This was the first of what we believe will be many releases birthed from the collaboration between Converse and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But what do you think they’ll come up with next? Let us know!