- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is closing out his six-year run with Converse via the SHAI 001 LACE UP, a traditional-lace redesign of his signature shoe.
- Three colorways release this fall: "Berry" and "Lime" drop August 14, 2026, with "Cheetah" following in September.
- For the first time, the SHAI 001 line adds Kids sizing, priced at $100, alongside the $120 adult version.
- The release caps his Converse tenure following his official move to Nike Basketball in June 2026.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is giving Converse fans one more chapter before he fully switches to Nike Basketball. The two-time MVP, NBA champion, and Finals MVP is closing out his six-year run with the brand through the SHAI 001 LACE UP, a redesigned version of his debut signature shoe.
The update trades the SHAI 001’s zippered tongue shroud for a traditional lace closure, while keeping the Nike Zoom Air forefoot unit and radial traction pattern intact.
In a press statement, Gilgeous-Alexander said he was “excited for what’s ahead” as he begins his Nike chapter, while wrapping up his final Converse releases.
Three colorways are landing this fall: “Berry” and “Lime” drop August 14, followed by “Cheetah” in September. For the first time, the line adds Kids’ sizing at $100, alongside the $120 adult pairs.
Gilgeous-Alexander officially joined Nike Basketball in June 2026, six years after first signing with Converse and later becoming its basketball creative director.
Off the court, his endorsement portfolio includes Canada Goose (global brand ambassador since February 2024), American Express (brand ambassador since November 2025), and AT&T. He also fronted Levi’s Super Bowl campaign.
Gilgeous-Alexander originally signed with Converse in 2020, was later named the brand’s basketball creative director, and secured a multiyear extension in 2024 before this farewell release.
Converse, meanwhile, keeps building its roster elsewhere. Tyler, The Creator just expanded his “1908 Series” with new leather colorways, continuing a partnership that dates back to a 2017 signing and multiple prior drops.
The brand’s creative roster beyond Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyler, The Creator includes Billie Eilish, Isabel Marant, Alex Consani, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ross Lynch, and its newest addition, Charli XCX.
Takeaways
This isn’t a typical signature-shoe launch, it’s a farewell tour, and Converse is playing it smart by closing the SHAI 001 chapter with a nostalgia-driven release rather than letting the line quietly fade out.
Adding Kids sizing for the first time also hints the brand sees more life left in the silhouette even after its face moves on. And because Nike owns Converse, this isn’t really a rupture; it’s closer to an internal succession plan for one of basketball’s biggest stars.
Will collectors treat the LACE UP as a “final edition” and push resale value higher, the way farewell releases often do? Could Gilgeous-Alexander’s first Nike signature shoe borrow design cues from the SHAI 001, or will it be a total reset?
