A hop and a skip from his hometown of Hamilton, Converse has doubled down on its partnership with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, unveiling his new logo as anticipation builds for his first signature shoe. The glyph-like emblem, featuring his jersey number (#2) and initials (SGA) in a fluid, symmetrical design, was introduced through an animation showing it emerging from a vat of liquid metal.
The announcement was projected on the curved digital board of the Eaton Centre, the area’s largest mall, located about 1.5 hours from his hometown.
“I had some original logos, with your typical lettering, but I wanted to do something different,” Gilgeous-Alexander told Nick DePaula in Toronto. “Obviously, I’m No. 2, and I was sketching and playing with it. I ended up mirror-reflecting the number and shaping it in a way that you could kind of see ‘SGA’ throughout it. I wanted to stay away from the lettering, though, and have it be two 2s in the logo that are mirrored.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has a long history with the number 2, or some variation of it, throughout his basketball career. At Kentucky, he wore No. 22 because fellow freshman Jared Vanderbilt had already claimed No. 2. Growing up, Shai’s friends often called him “Two.”
In addition to the number two holding personal significance, dating back to high school when he chose it because his girlfriend (now wife), Hailey Summers, wore it for soccer, Gilgeous-Alexander explains how the number reflects the duality of who he is.
“For me, it’s like there’s two sides to me,” he mentioned. “There’s the basketball player and the artist. That’s how I see it. There’s two sides to my game, with the offense and the defense. There’s two sides to who I am as a person. I have a chill stage and I have an outgoing, funny, laughing stage. There’s always two parts to me.”
Since joining Converse in 2020, SGA has become one of the NBA’s top players and a recognized style icon, making his influence a key part of Converse’s return to basketball. He’s already showcased custom designs like the Converse Weapon and sported models such as the BB Trilliant CX throughout 2024.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to dominate both on and off the court, seamlessly blending elite basketball skills with his celebrated sense of style. Last season, he made history as the first player ever to earn both All-NBA First Team honors and a spot on the All-League Fits First Team. This rare achievement highlights his growing influence not just in the game but also in fashion, where his tunnel fits are as closely watched as his performances on the hardwood.
“It’s so surreal, having the people that grew up with me here, when I was 11 years old, running around and throwing a ball off a brick wall — terrible at basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said with a smile. “They’ll see my signature logo revealed in downtown Toronto. It’s surreal and an amazing feeling to share with those people.”
While the wait for his signature sneaker continues, this logo reveal signals that Converse and SGA are ramping up their collaboration. More updates on this partnership are expected in 2025.
