To be drafted into the NBA is one thing, but to make the league and get a shoe contract as well? Now that is the dream for a lot of hoopers around the world.
From the moment Jordan Brand began life as its own entity and sub-brand of Nike in 1997, the Jumpman has endeavored to sign the best hoopers in the world.
Beginning with Ray Allen, Derek Anderson, Eddie Jones, Vin Baker and Michael Finley, that group came to be known as Team Jordan's Starting 5. That carried right through to the generation that held it down for the brand from 2003 to 2017, which included Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Rip Hamilton and more.
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Most of those guys are now either retired or in the twilight of their careers, so the brand has pivoted once again to a new rising young group of stars they hope will elevate Jordan Brand in the next decade.
That doesn't mean some of the former guys are out of the picture, however.
The Sporting News has you covered on which current players are with the brand today, and which ones hold the special title of being a "signature athlete."
Which NBA players have Jordan Brand endorsements?
Among current NBA players on active deals, 17 players are endorsed by Jordan Brand.
| Player | Team |
| Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat |
| Carmelo Anthony | --- |
| Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic |
| Mike Conley Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Luke Doncic | Dallas Mavericks |
| Bradley Beal | Washington Wizards |
| Andre Drummond | Chicago Bulls |
| Rui Hachimura | Washington Wizards |
| Victor Oladipo | Miami Heat |
| Chris Paul | Phoenix Suns |
| Otto Porter Jr. | Toronto Raptors |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics |
| Moritz Wagner | Orlando Magic |
| Kemba Walker | Detroit Pistons |
| Russell Westbrook | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Cody Zeller | Portland Trailblazers |
Which NBA players have a Jordan Brand signature shoe?
It's one thing to have a Jordan Brand deal, and another altogether to have your own signature shoe with the brand. Every player dreams of having a signature shoe, but very few get to live that dream.
Of all the players on the Jumpman roster, just four players have their own signature sneaker, with Luka Doncic being the most recent addition. His signature shoe was released in late July.
| Player | Shoe |
| Luke Doncic | Jordan Luka 1 |
| Chris Paul | CP3.13 |
| Russell Westbrook | Why Not? Zer0.4 |
| Zion Williamson | Jordan Zion 2 |
The brand has been much more selective of who they give signature shoes to in recent years.
Back in 2017, Jordan Brand discontinued Carmelo Anthony's signature line with the M13 being the last model to release.
Anthony is still currently with the brand but has been wearing various different models of Jordan Brand's flagship model, including the Air Jordan 35 and 36 over the past couple of seasons.
He has been with Jordan Brand since being drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets in 2003. Incidentally, when Anthony signed with the brand back in 2003, he was paid $3.5 million per year over six years which, at the time, was the most Michael Jordan had paid another hooper to lead his brand.
Even Chris Paul's signature line has been affected, as the CP3.13 never got an official retail release. Paul wore it in some games with the Suns, but it never hit shelves.
The Lakers' Westbrook is currently on the fourth iteration of his performance signature model, the Why Not?, and he also had a signature lifestyle sneaker with Jordan Brand back in 2015 called the Westbrook 0.
Last December the Celtics' Jayson Tatum told The Knuckleheads podcast (both hosts of that show, Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles are both former Jordan Brand guys, too) that he had a signature shoe coming as well.
"I can't tell y'all exactly when, but it's on the way," Tatum said.
In the meantime, Tatum, too, has been wearing various Player Exclusive (PE) colorways of the Air Jordan 36.
Some players who don't have a signature shoe may have a PE colorway of a particular retro model made for them. For example, the Wizards' Rui Hachimura had a recently released Japanese-inspired Air Jordan 8 retro.
As Jordan Brand has transitioned toward younger players who can carry the brand forward, it will be interesting to see how they utilize this year's No. 1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero.
