Spring jacket season meets MVP matchup in Celtics-Thunder showdown
Two of the best-dressed players on two of the best teams wore similar jackets on the last night of an important stretch.
Two of the most fashionable players in the game wore strikingly similar jackets and chains before a top-seed showdown Wednesday night, and the Celtics closed out their homestand in a matchup that stretched beyond the standings.
On one side, Jayson Tatum, franchise star and a fixture in the MVP conversation, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, presumptive frontrunner, on the other.
Before facing off on the floor, it was the battle of the spring jackets. And according to GQ, “dudes are so obsessed with light jacket season” — a reminder that NBA style serves as a proxy for broader cultural conversations.
Similar in execution, but distinct in their own right, Tatum and Gilgeous-Alexander walked their respective pregame runways in a near-perfect synchronization of style.
Tatum, known for a clean, understated approach to style, went for a Jacquard cotton-blend jacket with a structured drape. He paired it with pearls, a trend-forward detail that quietly delivered luxury.
SGA went with craftsmanship with an alpaca-wool blend jacket, adding texture with a delicate chain that caught the light just enough to mirror the luster of Tatum’s pearls. Understated opulence, nothing too flashy. There might have been a little shade thrown in for fun, too. The sweater design is known as the “Full Zip Hood Boston Check” on the brand website.
Neither player went mainstream. They both opted for obscure designers that fall in the “iykyk” category. Tatum usually gravitates toward niche brands, lesser-known yet highly respected designers. SGA, when he’s not modeling for magazine covers and underwear lines — possibly the league’s most experimental dresser — has made a name for himself by wearing pieces that blur the line between avant-garde and effortless cool.
By halftime, the symmetry extended beyond the tunnel. The game was nearly deadlocked, mirroring the pregame style battle that played out before tipoff, closing out the third, 88 to 88, and maintaining a near tie through to the final minutes. Thunder won, 118-112. In the battle of the jackets, both Tatum and SGA walked away winners.
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