In a historic second for Canadian basketball, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has formally joined the unique ranks of athletes with their very own signature sneaker.
The disclosing of the Converse SHAI 001 marks a pivotal achievement for the Toronto-born guard, cementing his affect on and off the courtroom. His private sketches served because the inspiration for the shoe’s putting design, which has generated a number of dialogue on-line.
Though many people admire the shoe’s smooth, fashionable look, opinions on the putting “Butter” colourway stay various.
Regardless of the blended opinion on its aesthetics, Gilgeous-Alexander’s sneaker is already making waves amongst his NBA friends. Gamers akin to Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers), and Chris Paul (San Antonio Spurs) have been noticed sporting the SHAI 001, additional solidifying its place within the basketball world.
71. Andrew
Timberwolves :
119-103
6 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST 33′
3/7 FG (43%) , 0/1 3 PTS (0%)
3/6 2 PTS (50%)
2 TO , 2 STL
19 D’EVAL pic.twitter.com/5yG0vZ7yH4— Andrew Nembhard Fra
(@NembhardFra) March 25, 2025
With Shai as Converse’s lone signature athlete, the model is seeking to re-establish itself in basketball tradition—a motion that echoes a legacy set by one other Canadian nearly a century in the past.
Converse and Jack Purcell: Canada’s unique sneaker pioneer
Earlier than Shai, there was Jack Purcell, a reputation now extra synonymous with sneakers than the game wherein he made historical past. Born in Guelph, Ont., Purcell was an unstoppable power in badminton, securing his place as Canada’s biggest participant. From 1929 to 1930, he gained back-to-back Canadian Nationwide Championships earlier than turning skilled in 1932. For twelve consecutive years (1933-1945), he dominated because the World Skilled Badminton Champion—a feat unmatched in the sport’s history.
However Purcell’s affect wasn’t confined to the courtroom. In 1935, he designed a canvas and rubber sneaker for the B.F. Goodrich Firm of Canada, aiming to create a shoe tailor-made for badminton gamers. The design, with its signature “smile” toe cap, grew to become an immediate basic. By the Nineteen Seventies, Converse acquired the rights to the sneaker, launching it into mainstream style.
Right now, the Jack Purcell silhouette is a timeless icon, out there for $70 on Converse’s official website. It has been reimagined in collaborations with Comme des Garçons, Feng Chen Wang, Richardson, Mastermind JAPAN, and plenty of extra manufacturers.
Converse
The Converse Jack Purcell type continues to be in the stores immediately.
Regardless of competing in numerous sports activities and coming from totally different eras, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jack Purcell share a uncommon distinction: they’re the one two Canadian athletes to have their very own signature shoe, and each are affiliated with Converse.
Whereas Purcell’s legacy has outlived his badminton profession—his sneakers typically overshadowing his achievements—Shai’s journey is simply starting. Whether or not the SHAI 001 will stand the check of time much like Purcell’s stays to be seen, however for now, Canada has a brand new sneaker icon to have a good time.
