NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander debuts his first signature sneaker, the Converse Shai 001. As Creative Director, the fashion-forward star leads Converse’s return to performance basketball. Swipe to learn about the design inspiration and features.

Fit For an MVP

Converse and SGA’s goal was to redefine basketball footwear for the future through a sleek silhouette that works and looks great on and off the court. The full length zipper is a welcome feature among nostalgic fans who watched the NBA during the late 90s and early 00s, which the tonal color palette and chunky design help with fitting into 2025’s style aesthetics.

Highly Anticipated

SGA debuted the first colorway, Butter, during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2025 to much fanfare. Both the streetwear designs and hoops heads built the Shai 001’s demand over 7 months between the sneaker’s debut and its release date, leading to sellouts of every colorway released so far.

On-Court Excellence

To best fit SGA’s game, the Shai 001 was designed for optimal comfort, containment and durability. As a shifty player who moves at his own pace and utilizes elite offensive footwork skills, the reigning MVP needs his sneaker to be responsive and feel connected to the ground.

Super Support

Contained within its strong, unibody shroud are a supremely cushioned upper, a ghillie lacing system to keep the foot locked down and an energetic Nike Zoom Air unit in the forefoot. In this shoe, the speed of SGA’s quick cuts, hard stops and changes of direction are hardly a concern.

For the Family

Many of the initial colorways are inspired by SGA’s family. The Charm Black colorway honors his mother Charmaine, the Hail Clay colorway is for his wife Hailey, and the Masi Blue colorway is the same color as a pair of fake Jordans Shai’s brother Thomasi used to wear when they were kids.

“I poured my heart and soul into the SHAI 001, and I’m proud to share it with the world. From performance to design, every aspect of this shoe reflects my passion for the game and my commitment to pushing its boundaries. We made the SHAI 001 a versatile shoe for everyone — from the athlete who’s in the gym three times a day to the kids who just want to express themselves on or off the court.” — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander