Basketball players have always loved to flex, and today’s biggest names—guys like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James—have taken the tunnel style game to an entirely new level over the last decade. Guy like that are part of a great shift in popular culture, one that sees athletes entering the fray—alongside movie stars and musicians—as people moving fashion forward. But even in today’s climate, where dressing outlandishly is practically part of the job, 23-year-old Phoenix Sun Kelly Oubre’s style still stands way out. The New Orleans native isn’t just putting on random over-the-top designer items and calling it an outfit, and while his style is focused, he doesn’t work with a stylist to craft his pre-game fits. Watching him roll up to games this season in a range of looks so cohesive, arranged together they almost read like a runway show, it’s pretty clear he’s definitely a new breed of NBA style icon—one who understands that just dressing up isn’t enough to stand out—and also, possibly, Dennis Rodman-level original. Either way, at this moment, few can hold a candle to him.

Oubre has made national headlines for his fashion choices more than once since joining the league in 2015. There was the Supreme x Nike shooting sleeve he tried and failed to wear on his leg during a game in 2017. He told press, “I don't know if it's too wavy for 'em, but I was just having fun.” And in November he signed a deal with Converse—ta move that marked the brand's return to its basketball roots. But edgy skate-wear doesn’t totally capture the full picture of Oubre’s style. It’s also got a goth flavor thanks to his preference for dark-tempered brands like Rick Owens, Saint Laurent, and Givenchy. And there’s a rock god theme that comes through in his piles of Chrome Hearts jewelry and embellished black leather accessories. Mashed together, the whole thing is darker and more dangerous-looking than what any else in the NBA is wearing.

Stephen Gosling Stephen Gosling

Today’s NBA style stars are often asked in the press about their aspirations in fashion and the common answer is something along the lines of “I love style, but basketball comes first,” or “Hey, you never know.” But Kelly Oubre isn’t afraid of commitment. “I love fashion as much as I love basketball,” he told the CFDA last year. All we can say is: it shows.