Purple basketball shoes

Purple Basketball Shoes

At least four NBA clubs have purple in their official team’s colors. The Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers all have a touch of purple in their uniforms.

Designed for Devin Booker, the player exclusive colorway of the Nike Kobe AD Mid features a Phoenix Suns-inspired mix of purple and orange. A prominently displayed Swoosh and images of Booker on the insole complete this Nike basketball shoe’s branding.

Launched to commemorate “Mamba Day” 2018, the Nike PG2 ‘Mamba Mentality’ takes inspiration from the Nike Kobe VI ‘Prelude’ pack. These purple basketball shoes sport a colorful heel graphic that illustrates some of Paul George’s off-court hobbies. These shoes, of course, get their color from Kobe Bryant's career-long stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Purple basketball shoes for women

The Jordan Brand celebrates the spirit and strength of the growing number of females who collect sneakers and basketball shoes. The brand routinely releases women’s exclusive collections. In 2018, the special collection was called “Season of Her.”  The ten-shoe collection combines premium materials with tonal pastel colors. Out of the ten, three pairs are covered in different shades of purple, which is a color strongly associated with women in the modern times.

Purple: The color of kings

For centuries, only royals and select rich people could wear purple. From Rome, Egypt, and Persia, purple was associated with the upper class. In fact, during the Elizabethan era, Queen Elizabeth I passed laws that reserved the wearing of purple clothing for the Queen and her royal family.

The color purple was also revered in the Byzantine Empire. Rulers wore purple robes and signed their decrees in purple ink. Their children were also described as being “born in the purple.”

Purple's association with royalty has persisted.  in fact, star players like Kobe Bryant release purple shoes regularly not only to honor their team but also to refer to their high status in the NBA.  For example, the ‘Purple Reign’ colorway of Kobe Bryant’s first Protro was released in 2018. This shoe was purple and black with hints of yellow and white. 

The King LeBron James also has his own purple basketball shoes. During the Lakers’ home opener for the 2018-2019 season, LeBron James broke out a pair of a Foot Locker-exclusive colorway of his Nike LeBron 16. The predominantly purple basketball shoes also come with the leopard print on the heel. Hints of gold on the tongue and Swoosh complete the shoe’s majestic appearance.