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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Behind the Signature Logo

The NBA All-Star and MVP candidate has made waves through his Converse partnership, and it’s no different with the reveal of his signature logo.

Near his hometown in Toronto, Canada, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unveiled his upcoming Converse signature logo overnight. Projections beginning at midnight displayed his new logo along the massive curved digital board of the Eaton Centre, the region’s largest mall located just ninety minutes from where he grew up in Hamilton. 

A mirrored “2” icon, the logo drafts from sketches that Gilgeous-Alexander himself created and drew.

“I had some original logos, with your typical lettering, but I wanted to do something different,” Gilgeous-Alexander told Boardroom in Toronto. “Obviously, I’m No. 2, and I was sketching and playing with it. I ended up mirror-reflecting the number, and shaping it in a way that you could kind of see ‘SGA’ throughout it. I wanted to stay away from the lettering, though, and have it be two 2s in the logo that are mirrored.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Converse
Image courtesy of Converse

“SGA” has worn the jersey number throughout his rise in the game. At Kentucky, he wore No. 22 when the number was taken before establishing himself as a franchise player in Oklahoma City as No. 2. His childhood friends will also often simply call him “Two.”

“Funny enough, I started wearing it in high school because my girlfriend, who is now my wife, at the time wore it [playing soccer],” he recalled.

As he dives further into the storytelling behind the signature mark, he explains that the logo also speaks to the duality that Gilgeous-Alexander brings to so many facets of his life. 

“For me, it’s like there’s two sides to me,” he described. “There’s the basketball player and the artist. That’s how I see it.” 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Converse
Brian Ach / Getty Images for Converse

The mirrored logo will be incorporated across his signature sneakers and apparel, expected to launch in 2025, while Gilgeous-Alexander is also already thinking through ideas around creating custom jewelry for himself, featuring the logo. It’s a number that represents his uniform on the court, but also the nuances of his personality and his story. 

“There’s two sides to my game, with the offense and the defense,” he continued. “There’s two sides to who I am as a person. I have a chill stage and I have an outgoing, funny, laughing stage. There’s always two parts to me.”

After initially signing with the brand in 2020, Gilgeous-Alexander landed a new long-term deal with Converse earlier this spring. His profile, both on and off the court, has exploded every year since first joining the brand, with the Thunder point guard being named a starter in the 2024 All-Star Game as the franchise entered contender status. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Converse
Gilgeous-Alexander’s on- and off-court style has fueled his star power. (Al Bello / Getty Images)

Perhaps no player across the NBA has excelled as well on and off the court, with his star power due to both his play and his much-followed tunnel fashion. Last season, SGA became the first player ever to be named All-NBA first team and All-League Fits first team in the same year, speaking to his impact and imprint both on the court and in the fashion lane.

“I feel like I got in the league at the perfect time,” he added.

Now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is enjoying the starting point of introducing his upcoming Converse signature collection in store, as he and the brand unveiled his signature logo before the new year … right back home.

“It’s so surreal, having the people that grew up with me here, when I was 11 years old, running around and throwing a ball off a brick wall — terrible at basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said with a smile. “They’ll see my signature logo revealed in downtown Toronto. It’s surreal and an amazing feeling to share with those people.”

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Nick DePaula

Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.

About The Author
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.