Victor Wembanyama had a special pair of sneakers on hand for the San Antonio Spurs’ first home game of the NBA regular season.

Ahead of the Saturday match-up against the Houston Rockets, Wembanyama was photographed with a customized version of his go-to Nike GT Hustle 3 sneakers. Referencing both his 2024 Rookie of the Year award and his well-documented fandom of the “Star Wars” franchise, Wembanyama’s “Wookiee of the Year” GT Hustle 3s were inspired by the furry Wookiee species which populate the films. 

Like their Wookiee inspiration, the Nike GT Hustle 3s were draped in a shaggy brown and black fur which covered nearly the entire upper. Further customization included an alien face on the tongue – a nod to Wembanyama’s extraterrestrial comparisons – and “ROY 24” (Rookie of the Year) printed on the heel 

Surprisingly, Wembanyama didn’t end up wearing the shaggy sneakers in the tunnel, nor did he lace them up for on-court action against the Rockets. Instead, the 7’3” French star wore a more standard white-based colorway of the sneaker. Built with double-stacked Zoom Air cushioning, the GT Hustle 3 is considered one of Nike’s top performing basketball shoes of the moment. Although not a signature shoe, Wembanyama has been marketed as the face of the model in promotional materials.

In April, Nike held its  A.I.R. (Athlete Imagined Revolution) exhibition in Paris which featured experimental concept designs including an AI-designed prototype created specifically for Wembanyama’s foot. 

As for the game, the Spurs inched by with a 109-106 finish to tally their first win of the season. Wembanyama led the way for the team with 29 points and added 7 rebounds.

Given its impracticality for performance use, it’s highly unlikely this “Wookiee of the Year” version of the Nike GT Hustle 3 will be released to the public. However, other styles of the GT Hustle 3 sneaker are available now from nike.com for $190 each.

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Victor Wembanyama attended Louis Vuitton’s summer 2025 Menswear show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday in Paris. Other notable attendees included Burna Boy, Jackson Wang, Sabrina Carpenter, Michael Fassbender, Joel Edgerton, Pusha T, Soo Joo Park, Anderson .Paak, Shygirl and Colman Domingo, among others.

The athlete sported a pair of black leather loafers aptly hailing from Louis Vuitton. The laceless style featured glossy patent leather uppers accompanied by almond-shaped toes, short stacked block heels and logo hardware in silver on the tongues.

Wembanyama often wears similarly preppy footwear styles for red carpet moments. Unlike Oxfords, loafers are much more casual, given their laceless construction. The silhouette is a popular one amongst both men and women, offering any ensemble a sleek and sophisticated touch. Brands like Aldo, Clarks, Steve Madden, Coach, Loewe, Staud and Dior, just to name a few.

The classic loafer silhouette has received major updates within the past few years, given colorful treatments with the addition of dazzling adornments and graphic prints. Loafers have also received a lift recently, fitted with platform styles that act to elongate the wearer’s legs.

In a similarly preppy manner, the basketball star was styled in a gray two-piece set comprised of a jacket fitted with silver buttons and tailored trousers. Layered beneath his jacket, Wembanyama wore a white button-down fitted with contrasting teal buttons tucked neatly into his trousers. The star also wore sunglasses and toted a large LV monogrammed bag in blue.

The teen’s height and wingspan alone also set him apart from other standouts in the league. If he is drafted, he’ll become one of the tallest NBA players of all time.

When it comes to sneakers, Wembanyama favors footwear from Adidas and Nike. Adidas Dame 8, New Balance Two Wxy V3, Nike KD 15, Nike Kobe 6 Protro are just some of the shoes the French basketball player has worn in-game.

Victor Wembanyama is widely expected to get his first signature sneaker within the next year, but before that happens a special edition of the GT Hustle 2 will mark the rookie phenom’s first shoe release.

The GT Hustle 2 “Alien” was debuted by Wembanyama while playing in the Rising Stars game during NBA All-Star weekend and is based on a nickname given to him by LeBron James. An alien logo on the heel and insole is modeled after the mark the 20-year-old Frenchman has since taken to drawing on his sneakers throughout the season.

Appearing a top a solid black base, the sneaker’s green and black overlays feature a nebula graphic. Both the shoe laces and midsole are also black with green speckling to give the appearance of a less dense cross-section of the universe, and the translucent green outsole glows in the dark with “Be unique every day” written across the two shoes.

Leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft in which Wembanyama was the highest rated prospective no. 1 pick since James, the elder superstar said: “We’re labeling like this unicorn thing — everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years. But he’s more like an alien — no one has seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor.”

Wembanyama has spoken on his fondness of the moniker, and Nike has also leaned into it for its marketing of the young sensation after reportedly signing him to a $100-million endorsement deal. The GT Hustle 2 has also been the model of choice for Wembanyama throughout his rookie season.

Victor Wembanyama’s Nike GT Hustle 2 “Alien” will release May 15 through Nike and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $170.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.