xxxxxxxFOR KICKS
SI: When you sat down with Puma, how did
they sell you on joining them?
KK: Having creative control, having my input matter,
those little things persuaded me. I have a lot of dreams
and aspirations for what I want to do, and how I believe I
can help impact the market and really make some noise.
SI: Why do you think players your age are more
comfortable not signing with the sneaker
giants they knew growing up?
KK: Everybody wants to be different, everybody wants
to be their own type of person. Growing up, everybody
wanted to wear Nikes. That was it. If you wore
something else, you kind of got laughed at. Nowadays,
you can really wear whatever and feel the freedom of
having swag or doing something different.
SI: When did fashion become something
that was important to you?
KK: I kind of always wanted to dress nice. I’ve always
said the first impression is the best impression, and the
first thing people look at is your clothes. Getting to the
NBA really enhanced that. Being around more money
and more people that are more fashionable.
SI: Do you feel more pressure to dress nicely
because you live in Los Angeles?
KK: The only pressure that comes with that is you can’t
really wear the same thing twice. Especially for me,
once you get photographed in something, everybody
knows you for what you got on at that certain moment.
SI: What would it mean to you to have
your own signature shoe?
KK: I grew up in an era where signature shoes were
huge. Seeing Michael Jordan have shoes, Kobe have
shoes, LeBron have shoes. As a little kid and as the
basketball player I am, 100%. I would love it. ±
BY ROHAN NADKARNITHE LAKERS’ KYLE KUZMA DISHES
ON HIS NEW SHOE DEAL
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