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The NBA sneaker market is one of the biggest parts of the game. Players are pulling up with the craziest shoes on a daily. It’s their way of sending across a message and telling their story. However, some shoes don’t pass the test. And a similar incident happened when famous rapper Kanye West brought out his Yeezy basketball sneakers. But NBA players weren’t having any of it, and they didn’t rest till the league accepted the shoes.

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West is always seemingly in the headlines these days. It may be his relationship with Kim Kardashian or his new albums. One thing remains unchanged, he is always setting the bar high. And his undying passion to be big in everything he does led to the creation of one of the biggest-selling sneakers on the planet.

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The Yeezy is one of the most popular shoes and sneakerheads are waiting to pounce on the new releases. However, sharing a love for basketball, Kanye put his mind to making a shoe for the court.

Unfortunately, the NBA couldn’t get on terms with the creation. It had a blinding reflective material that the officials couldn’t accept. Hence, they banned the shoe. But with the help of the NBA players, Kanye was able to get the league to lift the ban.

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Kanye West assembles help inside the NBA

After West made his big creation, he immediately went into signing players. One of the first names was Zach LaVine. The Chicago Bulls All-Star was set to give the shoes a run in the NBA. However, the league banned it before they could touch the hardwood.

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However, LaVine wanted to send a message. He put faith in what he believed and debuted the shoe during the NBA’s All-Star weekend. He suited up for the three-point contest with the banned Yeezy’s on his feet. Only this time, the reflective material no longer existed.

His move became a revolution. And next in line came New Orleans Pelicans forward, Brandon Ingram. Playing in his first All-Star game, BI became the first NBA player to wear the Yeezy on the court. What made it better is Kanye West himself was present courtside to see his beloved creation in action. He immediately called Ingram over after noticing the shoes and took in the moment. But this wasn’t the end of it.

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USA Today via Reuters

After the former Los Angeles Laker, NBA veteran Andre Iguodala wore them during a game for the Miami Heat. Moreover, he did it twice even introducing a new colorway. A revolution was underway within the league, and this forced the league to take a step they had never taken before. The Yeezy became the first shoe to have the ban lifted. The NBA players and West won the fight.

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It’s very rare to see the NBA have to bow down. However, when it is Kanye, arguably anything is possible.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,617 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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