It’s official: Skechers is in the basketball shoe business.
With the NBA regular season here, Skechers has revealed its first-ever basketball shoes. The brand will make its on-court debut with two mid-top styles: the Skx Resagrip and the Skx Float.
What’s more, Skechers has tapped two renowned ballers as brand ambassadors: Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers. The hoopers have been wearing Skechers throughout the preseason.
“Following our road map for success as a breakthrough brand in running, golf, pickleball and global football, we’re leveraging the insight and feedback of pros like Julius Randle and Terance Mann to authenticate our position as a performance brand with the best basketball shoes on the court,” Skechers Performance VP of product development and merchandising Greg Smith said in a statement. “We’re entering the sport with two players who represent a cross section of the NBA, from an all-star veteran in the Eastern Conference to a rising star right here in Los Angeles. Our roster illustrates that Skechers steps on the court with innovative features and designs for every type of athlete, whatever your style or wherever you play.”
The Skx Resagrip, the brand explained, was created for basketball players who move at top speed. The look features midsole cushioning built for explosive movements and Goodyear Resagrip Technology with outsole configuration underfoot.
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And the Skx Float, according to Skechers, was made for players in need of stability. To provide this, the brand added strategically-placed TPU to lock the wearer’s foot in place, as well as its lightweight Swirl Tech design for flexibility for court feel and Goodyear outsoles for traction.
Skechers also added its Hyper Burst midsole cushioning and Hyper Burst Pro sockliners to each shoe.
“It’s an incredible experience working with Skechers. They’re new to the sport, so we have the opportunity to do exciting things outside the box in a positive and impactful way,” Randle said in a statement. “Skechers is a great fit for me because I’m a competitive player and they have this same approach when it comes to their mission to make the best shoe on the court. This is the next stage in a journey for Skechers and for my career, so we’re trailblazing together with these amazing shoes. I love that.”
Mann added, “From the first moment I stepped onto the court in Skechers, I knew these shoes were the real deal — they’re so comfortable and also represent my style. I love that Skechers is an L.A.-based brand. I can meet in person at any time to talk about the shoes and really partner with them. They’re giving me everything that I need, and I’m looking forward to competing in Skechers.”
Skechers confirmed it will deliver its debut basketball footwear collection next week via Skechersbasketball.com and at select Skechers retail stores in North America. Also, it will release at select retailers and Skechers stores in both the Philippines and China.
Additional colorways of the shoes, Skechers said, will arrive in the fall and low-top versions of both styles will release in spring ’24.
News of Skechers’ entry into basketball comes not long after the brand made a splashy move in another sport: soccer. In August, the brand announced it had signed Harry Kane to a long-term deal, making him the center of its first European football boots, the SKX_01, which launched in the UK and Europe last month. Skechers also said Kane will be featured as a brand ambassador in a multiplatform marketing campaign.
“Along with our recent entry into the soccer business, Skechers now offers high-performance footwear for athletes competing in the two biggest sports on the planet,” Skechers president Michael Greenberg said in a statement. “This is the start of a long-term investment in basketball with more player partnerships, which is essential for our growth strategy and vision. We’re launching in the three largest standalone basketball markets — the U.S., China and the Philippines — with expansion to more regions expected in the future.”
Wednesday’s announcement comes a week after The Athletic published a report revealing Skechers’ interest in signing NBA star Joel Embiid. The hooper was spotted wearing a Skechers shoes for the first time during the 76ers practice on Oct. 18. Embiid, according to The Athletic, will wear the new Skechers shoe in games if a deal comes to fruition.
