Russell Westbrook’s daring style choices have paid off, as the 2017 NBA MVP has now been voted SI’s 2017 Fashion MVP and will grace the new cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, TheWrap has learned.
Among those also featured in the Fashionable 50 issue are Victor Cruz, Serena Williams, Dwyane Wade, Roger Federer, LeBron James, Henrik Lundqvist, Andre Iguodala, Lewis Hamilton and Maria Sharapova.
Aside from his brilliant play on the basketball court for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook is renown for his runway-worthy style, which includes bold prints, shabby chic, all-leather looks, manly shorts and even somehow makes overalls sexy.
Hot off a win at last week’s ESPY Awards, he’ll now join the Fashionable 50 honorees, prestigious athletes and Hollywood celebrities on Tuesday at an event in Los Angeles honoring the world’s most fashionable sports stars to celebrate the second annual Fashionable 50 list.
“I wear a combination of everything,” Westbrook said in the SI cover story. “I go with what I’m feeling and with what looks good, regardless of how much it is. I want to show people across the world that you don’t always have to wear high-end. Whatever it is, you can still be fashionable.”
Former NBA player and style icon Walter Clyde Frazier said of Westbrook in the new issue, “He’s the most provocative, eccentric, enigmatic dresser and player in the NBA.”
Bears wide receiver Victor Cruz went on to say: “He’s just killing it, in his own way. For him, it’s just: Why can’t I wear that? Why should I be pigeonholed into one thing? Why can’t I average a triple double throughout the entire season? There’s nothing that he feels like he can’t do, and that just embodies his entire persona. And it makes for great fashion.”
Other awards and superlatives handed out by SI include: Aly Raisman for Best Red Carpet Style and Conor McGregor for The Statement Maker.
The NBA is the most fashionable league this year, with 13 hoops stars making the list, followed closely by 12 NFL players and 7 tennis standouts, according to a statement from SI.
For the full SI Fashionable 50 list plus exclusive photos and video with Walt Clyde Frazier, Russell Westbrook Malcolm Jenkins and more, check out the full hub here.
The special Fashionable 50 double issue of Sports Illustrated hits newsstands on Thursday, July 20.