NBA Star Kyle Kuzma Finds Authenticity in the Unexpected
Vogue Man

Kyle Kuzma Is in A League of His Own

Kyle Kuzma wears LOUIS VUITTON. Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines

Kyle Kuzma shows us that authenticity in style comes from embracing the unexpected.

From the moment Kyle Kuzma touched down in Manila, he was immediately greeted by thousands of fans at the arrival terminal, all eager to catch a glimpse of one of basketball’s biggest stars.  

The six-foot-nine star was dressed in an ensemble that felt distinctly his own: an oversized black top draped loosely over his frame, paired alongside roomy cargo pants with terrace-like layers, and a bucket hat pulled low over his eyes. 

LOUIS VUITTON jacket and PATEK PHILIPPE watch. Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines

The relationship between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and fashion has been dynamic and ever-evolving. In the 1950s, players adhered to the conservative post-war dress code, sporting suits and ties that mirrored the era’s formality. But as societal shifts swept through the US, players’ wardrobes became more expressive. The 1970s saw an infusion of personal style with oversized fur coats, wide-brimmed hats, and bold accessories, breaking away from the conformity that once defined the league. Michael Jordan’s signature oversized suits of the ‘90s gave way to Allen Iverson’s bold, hip-hop-inspired look in the early 2000s. Today, fashion in the NBA is more than an afterthought, it’s become part of the game.

NBA arenas have become runways, where players strut through tunnels before games, donning outfits that aim to make a statement long before they take their first shot. Few have embraced this cultural crossover more than Kyle Kuzma.

“When you wear something that’s truly yours, people can feel that energy.”

Kuzma had made headlines as a member of the All-Rookie First Team in his first year, winning an NBA Championship in his third, and now, as the leader behind the Washington Wizards’ young core. But off the court, you would often find Kuzma at the front row of fashion weeks, with his most recent sightings at Marni, Amiri, and Rhude during their presentations in New York and Paris. In NYFW, he walked in shows for Puma’s “Futrograde” presentation and Sp5der. 

Growing up in Flint, Michigan, he spent a lot of time being raised by his grandmother, who he credits as the spark that ignited this passion. “Going back to my childhood, my grandmother used to make us go to church and we couldn’t just wear anything. No sweats allowed,” Kuzma recalls. “We really had to dress up, and I think that naturally led me to believe that having a good first impression and looking nice was always part of going out every day.”

GUCCI jacket, PRIVÉ ALLIANCE shirt, and PATEK PHILIPPE watch. Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines
LOUIS VUITTON cardigan, UNIQLO tank top, and talent’s own jewelry. Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines

This growing interest in clothing also found its way into his school life, where he first started to explore his style. “Back in the day, it was cool to have a steep crease in your pants. I used to iron my clothes every day before class just to have that crease, just to look presentable and look really fly, so [that urge] to trying new things had always been a part of me,” he explains. 

“The main emphasis of fashion is art,” the NBA standout argues. “Artists can throw anything on the wall and say it’s beautiful while directing where it all flows, and I think people should really look at fashion as something like that, something that is free-flowing.” This is expressed through his fashion choices, which swing from one style to another. One day, he’ll be wearing a pink cable knit sweater so voluminous that its sleeves nearly graze the floor and, on another, he’ll be in a skin-tight leather suit contrasted against a pair of chunky sneakers.

BALMAIN shirt, and talent’s own jewelry. Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Man Philippines

Similarly, he thinks that “being a basketball player is its own form of art and its players are artists. As a player, [I think] I’m very versatile when I approach games [because] I tend to look at it in many different ways, and with fashion, it’s the same thing. It’s about looking at many different things a certain way but finding what’s true to you.” This has driven him to launch his own brand that reflects the evolution of his style from his upbringing in Michigan. 

“When you wear something that’s truly yours, people can feel that energy,” Kyle says. “Whatever first comes to mind is your gut telling you what you should do, so if you see something and like it, just wear it. Be the person that can throw off your environment’s energy.” 

Vogue Man Philippines: November 2024 Issue

₱795.00

By GABRIEL YAP. Photographs by KARL KING AGUÑA. Vogue Man Editor DANYL GENECIRAN. Grooming: Don de Jesus. Hair: JA Feliciano. Producer: Julian Rodriguez. Photographer’s Assistants: Rojan Maguyon, Ruby Pedregosa. Stylist’s Assistant: Myc Priestley.

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