LeBron James Has Entered His ‘Uncle Style’ Era
StyleWhen you’re in your 22nd year in the NBA, you’ve earned the right to show up for work in a hoodie and slides.By Matthew RobersonJanuary 3, 2025Adam Pantozzi/Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.The tunnel fit is dead. Long live the tunnel fit. LeBron James, the indisputable face of the NBA this century, is partially responsible for its present-day decline. While he didn’t make a formal announcement in Vogue like his former teammate Kyle Kuzma, LeBron seems to have quietly quit the tunnel fit game as well. For most of this season, King James arrived at the arena in a simple hoodie, often worn with athletic shorts and Nike slides.LeBron strolling into an away game in San Antonio in November… Michael Gonzales/Getty Images…and again at home in LA versus the Blazers in December. Adam Pantozzi/Getty ImagesThis being literally LeBron James—either the best or second-best basketball player of all time by most accounts, who has also been in the league longer than some players have been alive—you can understand the decision to let himself go a bit, fashion-wise. The tunnel fit is a young man’s game, and LeBron has been there, done that. The 20-time All-Star (!!!) also recently turned 40, and has, fittingly, embraced a new tunnel persona that we’re dubbing Uncle Bron. The latest installment in the Uncle Bron catalogue was Thursday night in LA, when he strode through the arena in, you guessed it, a black hoodie.The King's latest laidback fit on Thursday. Adam Pantozzi/Getty ImagesThis time, though, he zhuzhed it up with some vibrant red slides to add a pop of color, which paired nicely with the hat he wore to rep his home state’s beloved college football team one day after their commanding Rose Bowl victory. The coffee cup is also very relatable. As we all know, the older you get, the more that evening caffeine starts calling to you. (He’s arrived with coffee in hand more than once this season.)What’s really endearing about this season of LeBron looks, though, is that he’s not afraid to go back to the well. Everyone’s got that one hoodie that fits like a glove, and sometimes, especially during winter, it’s the only thing you want to wear. Kudos to LeBron for giving into the intrusive thoughts and doing just that. In October, Kuzma told Vogue, “I can speak from experience that when you’re a younger player, you don’t want to wear the same thing twice. A lot of times we get played into thinking, oh, we gotta switch it up, we gotta buy something new. And now we’re just buying clothes to impress people or to stand out. It’s ludicrous.” Something tells us LeBron saw that quote and thought: Exactly.There has been some variety, though. A personal favorite is this all-white ensemble with a camo bucket hat that he broke out for the Lakers’ game in Atlanta on December 6.As clean as it gets. Adam Hagy/Getty ImagesBut for the most part, it’s been a parade of black hoodies (given his lifetime Nike deal and estimated $1.2 billion net worth, we’re going to assume he owns more than one). Even for games when he wasn’t playing, LeBron wasn’t afraid to bring his unc style to the bench. Here he is on December 8, watching the Lake Show take on the Portland Trail Blazers next to his son Bronny, with his hood up and durag tied, looking like he might throw something on the grill later.On the sidelines with Bronny last month. Gina Ferazzi/Getty ImagesWe love this development for the big guy, who is also one of the co-chairs for this year’s Met Gala. While the understated black sweatshirt will probably stay in the closet during the first Monday in May, the four-time MVP has proven this year that personal style comes in many shapes and forms. He looks as comfortable and confident in loungewear as he does in a sharp suit. Now all that’s left for him to do is figure out how to get the Lakers into the playoffs.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The tunnel fit is dead. Long live the tunnel fit. LeBron James, the indisputable face of the NBA this century, is partially responsible for its present-day decline. While he didn’t make a formal announcement in Vogue like his former teammate Kyle Kuzma, LeBron seems to have quietly quit the tunnel fit game as well. For most of this season, King James arrived at the arena in a simple hoodie, often worn with athletic shorts and Nike slides.
This being literally LeBron James—either the best or second-best basketball player of all time by most accounts, who has also been in the league longer than some players have been alive—you can understand the decision to let himself go a bit, fashion-wise. The tunnel fit is a young man’s game, and LeBron has been there, done that. The 20-time All-Star (!!!) also recently turned 40, and has, fittingly, embraced a new tunnel persona that we’re dubbing Uncle Bron. The latest installment in the Uncle Bron catalogue was Thursday night in LA, when he strode through the arena in, you guessed it, a black hoodie.
This time, though, he zhuzhed it up with some vibrant red slides to add a pop of color, which paired nicely with the hat he wore to rep his home state’s beloved college football team one day after their commanding Rose Bowl victory. The coffee cup is also very relatable. As we all know, the older you get, the more that evening caffeine starts calling to you. (He’s arrived with coffee in hand more than once this season.)
What’s really endearing about this season of LeBron looks, though, is that he’s not afraid to go back to the well. Everyone’s got that one hoodie that fits like a glove, and sometimes, especially during winter, it’s the only thing you want to wear. Kudos to LeBron for giving into the intrusive thoughts and doing just that. In October, Kuzma told Vogue, “I can speak from experience that when you’re a younger player, you don’t want to wear the same thing twice. A lot of times we get played into thinking, oh, we gotta switch it up, we gotta buy something new. And now we’re just buying clothes to impress people or to stand out. It’s ludicrous.” Something tells us LeBron saw that quote and thought: Exactly.
There has been some variety, though. A personal favorite is this all-white ensemble with a camo bucket hat that he broke out for the Lakers’ game in Atlanta on December 6.
But for the most part, it’s been a parade of black hoodies (given his lifetime Nike deal and estimated $1.2 billion net worth, we’re going to assume he owns more than one). Even for games when he wasn’t playing, LeBron wasn’t afraid to bring his unc style to the bench. Here he is on December 8, watching the Lake Show take on the Portland Trail Blazers next to his son Bronny, with his hood up and durag tied, looking like he might throw something on the grill later.
We love this development for the big guy, who is also one of the co-chairs for this year’s Met Gala. While the understated black sweatshirt will probably stay in the closet during the first Monday in May, the four-time MVP has proven this year that personal style comes in many shapes and forms. He looks as comfortable and confident in loungewear as he does in a sharp suit. Now all that’s left for him to do is figure out how to get the Lakers into the playoffs.
