Worst-Dressed Athletes in Sports Right Now

Laura DeptaJun 24, 2014

The worst-dressed athletes in sports today are an interesting bunch.

Guys like Russell Westbrook use their celebrity to make a statement. His style may be confusing to some, but he certainly is no follower. He takes the role of trendsetter when it comes to his fashion choices, and he answers to no one.

On the other hand, some athletes don’t appear to care about fashion at all (cough—Tim Duncan). Others, like Paul George, attempt to follow in the footsteps of bold fashion trailblazers but don’t quite make it. Others, well, are just plain weird.

Historically, there have been many horrific dressers who also happened to play sports. Let’s focus this list on our current crop of fashion disasters. Without further ado, I present today’s most stylistically challenged jocks.

Brian Wilson

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Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

Who could forget about the pitcher’s leotard tuxedo at the 2011 ESPYs?

But it’s not just that. Even if you can forgive his lumberjack beard as a fashion statement, the incessant beanies have got to go. Dude plays his ball in California.

Bradley Roby

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USA TODAY Sports

I can forgive one offense, like Bradley Roby’s at the 2014 NFL draft.

But the first-round pick out of Ohio State made a second blunder at his official introduction in Denver.

Maybe he’s just trying to help Cam Newton with the bow-tie revolution (more on that in a minute).

Colin Kaepernick

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Evan Agostini/Associated Press

Colin Kaepernick’s fashion isn’t so much bad as it is confused.

One minute he’s casual in sweats and Beats headphones, while the next he’s sporting a leather jacket and Beats headphones. Still other times you’ll see him in a puffy vest with Beats headphones or a cardigan and Beats headphones.

I’m sensing a theme.

Also, the jury is still out on men in turtlenecks, but I'm personally not a fan.

Cam Newton

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Richard Shotwell/Associated Press

Right alongside Kaepernick is his NFL quarterback counterpart, Cam Newton.

You may remember the pass I gave Russell Westbrook in the opener, because he’s a trendsetter. Guys like Newton are more like trend followers.

Perhaps taking a cue from Westbrook, Newton is now desperately trying to make bow ties happen.

Joakim Noah

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Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Ever since his memorably bad wardrobe choice at the 2007 NBA draft, folks have had an eye out for Joakim Noah’s questionable fashion sense.

The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year was actually asked by the league to change during a 2013 game—he was sitting out due to injury.

Andrew Luck

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Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Andrew Luck is one of our Tim Duncan All-Stars for Fashion Apathy. It doesn’t seem like Luck is as much wardrobe-challenged as he is lethargic.

He can frequently be spotted wearing nothing notable at all.

Besides this and uh, this.

Drew Brees

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John Shearer/Associated Press

Seriously, what is up with the shiny coats? Maybe athletes think they have a better chance at winning awards if they are more easily seen from the stage?

More recently, I have to say that grown adults wearing costumes to movies definitely qualifies as a questionable fashion move.

Paul George

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Issac Baldizon/Getty Images

According to this delightful collection of photos from Deadspin, Paul George really digs leather.

Also, his green shirt from the 2013 NBA playoffs looks like something you’d find underneath the plastic on your grandma’s couch.

Lionel Messi

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Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Player of the Year award (now called the Ballon d'Or) four times, but he hasn’t won any best dressed competitions at any of the ceremonies.

In 2012 and 2013 he donned red velvet and polka dot jackets, respectively.

In 2014 Cristiano Ronaldo won the award, but Messi would not be ignored—sporting a shiny red suit that was, well, not attractive.

Lindsey Vonn

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Dan Steinberg/Associated Press

Lindsey Vonn is an Olympic gold medalist and a beautiful woman, but we have still seen some atrocious looks from her over the years. This sparkly little number at the 2011 ESPYs looks like it belongs in a Vegas club.

She attended the 2012 Tiger Jam wearing something even more revealing, although to be fair, this charity event was actually held in Vegas.

Ryo Ishikawa

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Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

I'm all about taking fashion risks. John Daly, Rickie Fowler—good for you guys.

But Ryo Ishikawa strikes me as the type of guy who might not realize how ridiculous he looks. For example, his ensemble at the 2013 Masters looked a little too nursing-home chic to me.

And the red-vest-and-turtleneck look? That's one for the record books.

Ryan Lochte

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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

He may be a gold medalist in the pool, but Ryan Lochte’s fashion skills leave something to be desired. When he is wearing clothes, they’re generally not that great.

The red leather vest belongs in the sports fashion hall of shame—perhaps he borrowed it from Ryo Ishikawa?

At least he’s lost the grill. I’ll give him that.

Andrew Bynum

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Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

I’m not sure if bad hair counts toward “worst-dressed,” but Andrew Bynum is certainly making a case that it should.

The injury-prone NBA center also has a history of wearing baggy clothing—which floors me. How is it even possible to be a 7-footer whose clothes are too big?