The sneaker game has always been about more than just performance. It has always been a mix of culture, history, and personal expression. Every so often, a fresh sneaker release sparks nostalgia and curiosity, and that’s exactly what happened when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unveiled his latest Converse collaboration. The Oklahoma City Thunder star, known for his impeccable fashion sense, has been redefining modern sneaker culture, seamlessly blending on-court dominance with off-court style.

The launch had fans buzzing, sneakerheads taking notes, and NBA players showing love. But amidst all the excitement, one veteran hooper decided to add a brief history lesson to the conversation. Enter Lou Williams, a certified bucket-getter, three-time Sixth Man of the Year, and a man who knows a thing or two about Converse basketball kicks.

As the world marveled at Shai’s fresh new sneakers, Lou couldn’t help but remind everyone that he had already paved the way for Converse before SGA started rocking it!

In an Instagram story shared by him, he showed a cabinet with Shai’s sneakers, then panned the camera to his original amazing sneakers saying, “Yeah, Shai, I been Converse too, man.”

Panning the camera further to the right, he says, “Hold on, let me show you the blue pair, yeah man, I been a Converse boy too man, Lou Will, lil’ Lou on the back,” displaying his blue pair which had the iconic caricature of him on the back.

What Lou showed wasn’t just a playful flex; it became a reminder of an era when Converse was still fighting to regain its footing in the NBA sneaker landscape. Lou’s response wasn’t about taking credit, it was about making sure the past wasn’t forgotten. And just like that, the past and present of Converse basketball collided in a way no one saw coming.

The forgotten Converse chapter: Lou Williams’ bold bet

Before Converse became a household name in SGA’s fashion-forward universe, Lou Williams was carrying the torch for the iconic sneaker brand. In 2009, Converse was looking to re-establish itself in the basketball world after years of being overshadowed by giants like Nike and Adidas.

As a part of its strategy, the brand signed Lou Williams to a multi-year endorsement deal, making him one of the few active NBA players representing Converse on the hardwood.

Williams’ deal wasn’t just symbolic, it came with a full product line, including player-exclusive colorways designed for his quick, elusive style of play. Fans often saw him rocking the Converse Weapon EVO, a modernized version of the classic sneaker that once graced the feet of legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Though the Weapon EVO never quite took off in mainstream sneaker culture, it was a bold attempt by Converse to reclaim its space in the basketball world.

His endorsement deal was part of Converse’s last big push into the NBA before the company took a step back from basketball performance sneakers in favor of lifestyle branding. Ultimately, the experiment didn’t yield the long-term results Converse had hoped for. The brand gradually faded from the professional basketball scene before returning with players like Shai.

It does not matter whether it’s Lou Williams reminiscing about his Converse days or Shai elevating the brand to new heights; one thing is clear: Converse has always found a way to stay in the conversation, just like these two dynamic guards.

Do you like Converse more than Nike? Let us know in the comments section.