![Growing up, former Duke basketball star RJ Barrett envisioned his NBA draft day — particularly walking across the stage and greeting the league commissioner, Adam Silver. “Shaking the commissioner’s hand has always been a big thing for me,” Barrett, 19, tells The Post. “When you’re young and you watch the draft every year, you’re like, ‘That’s going to be me one day.’ ” But until recently, the Toronto native hadn’t thought about what he would wear for the most important handshake of his young life. Over the past few weeks, he’s worked quickly to figure out his approach for Thursday night’s draft, which is being held at the Barclays Center. Like his college hoops career, he wanted it to be splashy, sharp and a “one and done” — the industry term for players who attend college for a single year before becoming NBA eligible. “The suit is going to be put in plastic and preserved [after the draft]. Maybe I will go into my closet and look at it a bit. Maybe I’ll frame it. Or at least the jacket,” explains the lean, 6-foot-7 small forward, who is expected to be a Top 3 pick. Barrett, who describes his everyday style as “sweats,” will be sporting a bold pink suit with a black dress shirt, a black tie, gray Louboutin loafers trimmed with studs that retail for $995 and his brand-new Cartier watch. “It’s extravagant. I’ve always been a reserved kind of person, so the thought was, ‘I want this to be memorable.’ It’s a night that I will never forget, so I want my suit to replicate that.” **NO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, NO NEW YORK TIMES, NO NEWSDAY**. 18 Jun 2019 Pictured: RJ Barrett holds up his studded Louboutins. Photo credit: Annie Wermiel/NY Post / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA448920_001.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mega448920_001.jpg?w=700&h=437&crop=1)
To no one’s surprise, Zion Williamson was the No. 1 NBA Draft pick tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where it was announced that the former Duke forward will join New Orleans Pelicans. Williamson shot to fame in February when the midsole of his Nike PG 2.5 sneaker split on the court in a matchup against North Carolina. He’s yet to sign a shoe deal, but lucrative offers are no doubt in the works.
With plenty of eyes on him, Williamson made certain to look sharp for the big night. The 18-year-old wore a cream-colored shawl-collared tuxedo with a matching button-down shirt by British designer Adrien Sauvage.
Following Zion, Murray State guard Ja Morant got picked by Memphis Grizzlies. “Dream come true! Let’s get to work,” Morant captioned a photo on his Instagram page. He had on a purple pinstripe suit with suede shoes, and watch brand Tissot sponsored him with timepieces to accessorize his look.
New York Knicks selected RJ Barrett to join its roster. The guard/forward stood out in a pink suit with a black dress shirt underneath. Down below he had on studded Christian Louboutin loafers in a dark gray.
![Growing up, former Duke basketball star RJ Barrett envisioned his NBA draft day — particularly walking across the stage and greeting the league commissioner, Adam Silver. “Shaking the commissioner’s hand has always been a big thing for me,” Barrett, 19, tells The Post. “When you’re young and you watch the draft every year, you’re like, ‘That’s going to be me one day.’ ” But until recently, the Toronto native hadn’t thought about what he would wear for the most important handshake of his young life. Over the past few weeks, he’s worked quickly to figure out his approach for Thursday night’s draft, which is being held at the Barclays Center. Like his college hoops career, he wanted it to be splashy, sharp and a “one and done” — the industry term for players who attend college for a single year before becoming NBA eligible. “The suit is going to be put in plastic and preserved [after the draft]. Maybe I will go into my closet and look at it a bit. Maybe I’ll frame it. Or at least the jacket,” explains the lean, 6-foot-7 small forward, who is expected to be a Top 3 pick. Barrett, who describes his everyday style as “sweats,” will be sporting a bold pink suit with a black dress shirt, a black tie, gray Louboutin loafers trimmed with studs that retail for $995 and his brand-new Cartier watch. “It’s extravagant. I’ve always been a reserved kind of person, so the thought was, ‘I want this to be memorable.’ It’s a night that I will never forget, so I want my suit to replicate that.” **NO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, NO NEW YORK TIMES, NO NEWSDAY**. 18 Jun 2019 Pictured: RJ Barrett tries on his custom Indochino pink suit that he is wearing to the NBA draft. Photo credit: Annie Wermiel/NY Post / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA448920_015.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mega448920_015.jpg)
![Growing up, former Duke basketball star RJ Barrett envisioned his NBA draft day — particularly walking across the stage and greeting the league commissioner, Adam Silver. “Shaking the commissioner’s hand has always been a big thing for me,” Barrett, 19, tells The Post. “When you’re young and you watch the draft every year, you’re like, ‘That’s going to be me one day.’ ” But until recently, the Toronto native hadn’t thought about what he would wear for the most important handshake of his young life. Over the past few weeks, he’s worked quickly to figure out his approach for Thursday night’s draft, which is being held at the Barclays Center. Like his college hoops career, he wanted it to be splashy, sharp and a “one and done” — the industry term for players who attend college for a single year before becoming NBA eligible. “The suit is going to be put in plastic and preserved [after the draft]. Maybe I will go into my closet and look at it a bit. Maybe I’ll frame it. Or at least the jacket,” explains the lean, 6-foot-7 small forward, who is expected to be a Top 3 pick. Barrett, who describes his everyday style as “sweats,” will be sporting a bold pink suit with a black dress shirt, a black tie, gray Louboutin loafers trimmed with studs that retail for $995 and his brand-new Cartier watch. “It’s extravagant. I’ve always been a reserved kind of person, so the thought was, ‘I want this to be memorable.’ It’s a night that I will never forget, so I want my suit to replicate that.” **NO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, NO NEW YORK TIMES, NO NEWSDAY**. 18 Jun 2019 Pictured: Barrett polishes off the look with studded Louboutins. Photo credit: Annie Wermiel/NY Post / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA448920_002.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mega448920_002.jpg)
https://www.instagram.com/p/By8mj3Ygops/
Completing the top five, Darius Garland was tapped by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Vanderbilt guard looked chic in head-to-toe cream, which included a kimono and boots all bespoke by Fear of God.
The other athletes stepped up their style game, too. Vibrant patterns, customized jacket linings and no socks with loafers were among the trends.
Results below:
- New Orleans: Zion Williamson, Duke forward
- Memphis: Ja Morant, Murray State guard
- New York: R.J. Barrett, Duke guard/forward
- Atlanta (from L.A. Lakers via New Orleans): De’Andre Hunter, Virginia forward
- Cleveland: Darius Garland, Vanderbilt guard
- Minnesota (from Phoenix): Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech guard
- Chicago: Coby White, North Carolina guard
- New Orleans (from Atlanta): Jaxson Hayes, Texas center
- Washington: Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga forward
- Atlanta (from Dallas): Cam Reddish, Duke forward
- Phoenix (from Minnesota): Cameron Johnson, North Carolina forward
- Charlotte: P.J. Washington, Kentucky forward
- Miami: Tyler Herro, Kentucky guard
- Boston (from Sacramento via Philadelphia): Romeo Langford, Indiana guard
- Detroit: Sekou Doumbouya, French forward
- Orlando: Chuma Okeke, Auburn forward
- New Orleans (from Brooklyn via Atlanta): Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech guard
- Indiana: Goga Bitadze, Buducnost center
- San Antonio: Luka Samanic, Olimpija Ljubljana forward
- Philadelphia (from L.A. Clippers via Memphis, Boston): Matisse Thybulle, Washington forward
- Memphis (from Oklahoma City): Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga forward
- Boston: Grant Williams, Tennessee forward
- Oklahoma City (from Utah via Memphis): Darius Bazley, Cincinnati Princeton forward
- Phoenix (from Philadelphia via Boston): Ty Jerome, Virginia guard
- Portland: Nassir Little, North Carolina forward
- Cleveland (from Houston): Dylan Windler, Belmont forward
- Brooklyn (from Denver): Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State forward
- Golden State: Jordan Poole, Michigan guard
- San Antonio (from Toronto): Keldon Johnson, Kentucky guard
- Detroit (from Milwaukee)
Want more?
No. 1 NBA Draft Pick Zion Williamson Explains His ‘Drippy Suit’ Ahead of Joining New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Prospect RJ Barrett Scores Indochino Brand Ambassador Deal
