NBA Stars Who Will Carry Signature Sneakers into the Next Decade

Times are different in footwear. Sneakers as a product have evolved and so has the marketing behind them.

As trends press forward and consumer palates change, brands are forced to find solutions. Perhaps there's no better example of this than when it comes to signature sneakers.

Signature shoes, the crowning achievement, the coup de grace of footwear, have been altered to fit NBA athletes' needs while maintaining a streetwear presence. We've seen LeBron James' line pivot this year to fill that void, along with Kevin Durant's.

So what does the future of footwear hold? And more importantly, who will carry it into the next decade? This article examines a handful of NBA athletes who could be tasked with ushering signature sneakers during a pivotal time for brands.

From established stars to people on the outside, let's find out which NBA stars will help shoulder the load.

Kyrie Irving

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The obvious choice as leader of the new school is Kyrie Irving. His evolution from NBA champion and LeBron James' trusty sidekick to leader of the Boston revolution has been divine.

In footwear, Kyrie remains an established, product-moving name. With the Kyrie 4's release, his line has become an event worth looking out for when the annual footwear calendar is released.

As of May 2017, Irving was No. 2 in signature sales behind only James himself, according to Kurt Badenhausen over at Forbes.

What's unique about Irving's footwear story is that he's now working with a new lead designer. A relative newcomer to the signature shoe process. Benjamin Nethongkome took creative reigns from Leo Chang—who's worked with Durant and Irving—starting with the Kyrie 4.

The story of how he got to work with Irving is riveting in its own right—check it out on Nike News for more details. It's a partnership has brought technological changes to a line that started with the principle of simplicity.

It's a powerful formula that will push Irving's footwear aspirations to the moon. With a young, hungry designer in Nethongkome and strong sales, Irving remains the heir apparent to King James' throne.

James Harden

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Adidas' basketball roster runs deep. But the company's golden goose has been Houston Rockets guard James Harden.

Harden's move to Houston jump-started his worth with brands. After departing Oklahoma City in 2012, the Beard established himself as a perennial talent on the floor and even left Nike to sign a colossal deal with Adidas during the summer of 2015, according to Sam Amick of USA Today.

The $200 million in reported funds quickly morphed into Harden receiving his own signature offering, dubbed the Harden Vol 1. The sneaker became a tremendous success not only from Adidas' aesthetic profile but also from a sales perspective—he cracked the top five in 2017, as Badenhausen mentioned.

Consumers have responded to Harden's line, and as long as Adidas continues to grow it organically, there's little reason to doubt the Beard won't be a major contributor to footwear culture as the next 10 years begin to unfold.

Joel Embiid

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Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has blossomed into the perfect personality for today's social media age. From on-court antics to his love for the Philly franchise and savvy balance of all things media, eyeballs have shifted toward the supremely talented big man.

As a member of Team Adidas, Embiid has a rare opportunity to help shake up Nike's basketball dominance. And being a center, that usually tends to be considered a reach.

However, Embiid's skill set can be transcendent at times—Embiid's player efficiency rating is ranked in the top 10 between Nikola Jokic and Andre Drummond, according to ESPN—and his charisma is often unmatched.

As the Sixers improve, so will Embiid's chance to secure himself a signature shoe. Along with fellow big man, and New York unicorn, Kristaps Porzingis, Embiid can be a poster child for Adidas' future. Whether he ends up locking up his own sneaker or simply wears the brand's staple line—like the Crazy Explosive—Embiid is a name to watch for.

LeBron James

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The Nike LeBron 15 is a special shoe. It's a coming-of-age release for the world's best player and, to be honest, an aesthetic makeover five years overdue.

Let the Golden State Warriors win 10 championships in a row. Basketball footwear will continue to revolve around King James. His sneaker sales are unmatched from a signature athlete's point of view. By 2013, Nike was flipping around $300 million worth of LeBron shoes on a yearly basis, as Badenhausen detailed.

That dominance has continued well into 2017.

The 33-year-old James has logged countless minutes over his decorated NBA career. But like Michael Jordan, James has the rare ability and business sense—as seen by producing television shows and appearing in films—to stay relevant.

LeBron's line is set up for it to thrive even after his playing days are over. Nike believes this will be the case. They rewarded James with a lifetime deal in 2015, rumored to be valued at $1 billion, as hinted at during Mark Anthony Green's interview with Maverick Carter in GQ.

Big money and a never-ending footwear line will keep James' name in the conversation for a long, long time.

Lonzo Ball

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We don't know what to expect from Lonzo Ball over the next 10 years. The NBA rookie has seen his share of ups and has endured plenty of downs.

But what the Ball family achieved prior to his rookie campaign kicking off provided the first big crack in how athletes chase footwear deals and the dollars that go along with them.

Big Baller Brand's ZO2—a solo venture—became a backdoor path to footwear success. Skipping over a brand's succession line, Ball used media savviness and marketing 101 to sell a sneaker with a $495 price tag. Even if that isn't sustainable for growth, the model put the footwear world on notice and gave Lonzo his own sneakers area code.

Perhaps the question worth posing is who will be the most interesting athlete to follow over the next decade when talking kicks? All things considered, Lonzo may be No. 1 on that list.

All stats and information provided by Sports Reference, unless noted otherwise.