Denver Nuggets' franchise star and now three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic has had one of the most memorable years of his life and he's got a chance to cap it off with back-to-back championships and basketball history. He also took a massive leap in his career by becoming the latest NBA superstar with his own signature sneaker, a long overdue eventuality. He recently opened up about his brand, 361, and why he chose them above some of the more recognizable names in the game. Check out our Sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Nikola Jokic announced his brand partnership with Chinese sportswear brand 361 Degrees around the holidays in December 2023. It was a move that shocked the basketball world as most fans expected sneaker giants like Nike or Adidas to snag the then two-time MVP. Teammate Aaron Gordon has been signed to the brand for quite some time, so it makes sense that the connection was made through someone close to Jokic.

Fast forward to 2024, and 361 has released several models for Jokic under the BIG3 silhouette, which he's been favoring in the meantime before his own signature model drops. With the Nuggets still fighting in the Playoffs, expect the roll-out for Jokic's first signature shoe to come sometime in the offseason.

The 2024 MVP recently opened up about what drew him towards 361 as a brand. Typically staying out of the limelight and keeping his endorsements to a minimum, Jokic has been vocal about how pleased he's been with the brand and most of all, the caliber of the footwear.

“361 showed up with great respect for me…they're very popular and actually an upscaling brand. Maybe I can help them in some ways.”

When speaking further on the deal, it's clear the most important aspect was the actual performance and feel of the shoe for Jokic. “They really made a shoe where the comfort is there and they did a really good job.”

Prior to signing with 361 Degrees, Jokic was seen wearing different high-top basketball sneakers from Nike and even rocking some Adidas models earlier in his playing days with Denver. It's been a longtime coming for him to receive his own shoe and now that it's finally here, the “Joker” can begin fully building his brand outside of just basketball.

With Nike and Adidas already being home to so many NBA stars as an endorser, growing numbers of players have wandered off the beaten path and sought sneaker partnerships from overseas brands. Lakers' Austin Reaves signed a six-figure deal with Rigorer and took over as one of their Chief Creative Officers. Mavericks' Kyrie Irving walked his own path after leaving Nike, becoming Creative Director and the face of sportswear brand ANTA. Many players continue to do the same and with the MVP of the league signing with a smaller, more unique brand like 361, it could open the floodgates for other players around the league to do the same.

What do you think of Jokic's latest sneakers?