Projected as one of the deepest and most hyped draft classes in recent years, the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York was exciting and worth the price of admission.
Aside from the predictability of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid going one, two and three respectively, draft day fashion was on full display! Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Andrew Wiggins who was selected first in the draft and donned an outfit complete with a black and white floral blazer and pants designed by Waraire Boswell.
“We just really wanted to do something different and stand out,” Wiggins told JET after being selected first in Thursday’s draft.
So where do other draftees in the NBA draft fit in? Both Clarence Jones and Michael Duru know a thing or two about stylish clothing.
Jones, a Chicago native, is the owner of CJ Custom Clothiers in Memphis. He’s been in the business since 1994 and has designed clothing for Gary Payton, Joe Johnson, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Robert Quin and Duke University assistant coach Jeff Capel.
Duru, owner of Michael Duru Clothiers in Shrewsbury, NJ is a third generation family business that specializes in made to measure clothing. Duru has designed custom clothing for Al Roker, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and the Notorious B.I.G.
Respected in their line of work, here are their picks for the best well-dressed players in the 2014 NBA Draft:
Clarence Jones’ Picks:
Jabari Parker, 2nd Pick Milwaukee Bucks—I like the grey/black look. It was very conservative to fit his style. The lapel pin in red was a very nice touch. The fit was not the greatest and the jacket could have been a little shorter. But overall great outfit.
Dante Exum, 5th Pick Utah Jazz—Great fit and nice color to go with his skin tone. Black checkered shirt, I liked with the tie combination.
Marcus Smart, 6th Pick Boston Celtics—I don’t like the tuxedo style. But I can honestly say the color; especially the fit was right on the money. The bowtie and pocket square was on point along with the glasses. That was a classic example of subtle. One of the better guys dressed in this draft.
Julius Randle, 7th Pick Los Angeles Lakers—Another grey and black combination; to me this is one of the better combinations of the night. The fit and accessories are right and spot on. Classic and very simple!
Nik Stauskas, 8th Pick Sacramento Kings—I really like that suit. It was different. Love the navy blue/light blue windowpane. The fit could have been better, so as the shirt, but, the simpler the better.
Michael Duru’s Picks:
Julius Randle, 7th Pick Los Angeles Lakers—My favorite for sure! It was a very well-conceived outfit. Great coordination of colors and nicely tailored for his body type.
Marcus Smart, 6th Pick Boston Celtics—Great color on him. He looked confident on the tux look. I loved the shoes too.
Jabari Parker, 2nd Pick Milwaukee Bucks—In a couple of words: Very elegant! It was the right model for his body type for sure. I liked the shoes as well
Andrew Wiggins, 1st Pick Cleveland Cavaliers—I would not do it for any of clients. However, this outfit is perfect for his personality and the type of game he plays. Kudos for trying! Terribly tied bow tie. You would think someone would have pointed that out to him.
Dante Exum, 5th Pick Utah Jazz—I love the vest. It was the second best tailored suit after Julius Randle. The whole thing just coordinates perfectly.
For more info on Clarence and Michael’s clothing, check out www.cjcustomclothiers.com and www.michaelduru.com.
About Brandon Robinson
Brandon Robinson is a contributor to Jet Mag. A sports and entertainment staff writer at The Source Magazine, his writing focuses on contemporary issues in sports, pop culture, politics and the game of basketball. He’s also a regular contributor to EBONY, MaxPreps, SLAM, Brooklyn Courier, Queens Times Ledger, Regal Radio and MadameNoire. He’s made expert appearances on Sirius/XM Radio, ESPN Radio and Arise TV. Follow Brandon Robinson on Twitter @ScoopB and visit www.ScoopB.com.
