{"id":84022,"date":"2026-09-01T18:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T18:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/84022\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T18:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T18:42:09","slug":"naomi-osaka-pays-tribute-to-allen-iverson-with-u-s-open-outfit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/84022\/","title":{"rendered":"Naomi Osaka pays tribute to Allen Iverson with U.S. Open outfit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anyone wondering what look fashion-forward tennis star Naomi Osaka<\/a> would sport at the U.S. Open this year received \u201cThe Answer<\/a>\u201d on Monday night at Flushing Meadows in New York.<\/p>\n

That is, her look was very much inspired by basketball icon Allen Iverson<\/a>, complete with cornrows, a headband and arm sleeves.<\/p>\n

After her 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) first-round victory over Anastasia Zakharova, Osaka said she decided to pay homage to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and his signature style after her apparel sponsor chose basketball as its U.S. Open theme.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot,\u201d Osaka said<\/a> during an on-court interview. \u201cI mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, \u2018OK, you want basketball, I\u2019ll give you basketball.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Osaka took the court wearing a long, hooded gown \u2014 possibly inspired by Iverson\u2019s hoodies and baggy clothes from back in the day \u2014 with newspaper clippings about her attached to it. She first took off the hood to reveal her hair and headband, then removed the gown to play in a black tank top and metallic tennis skirt.<\/p>\n

\"Naomi <\/p>\n

Naomi Osaka arrives to compete against Anastasia Zakharova during the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday in New York. <\/p>\n

(Adam Hunger \/ Ap Photo\/adam Hunger)<\/p>\n

\"Naomi <\/p>\n

Naomi Osaka reacts to winning the first set against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday at the U.S. Open. <\/p>\n

(Adam Hunger \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

The two-time U.S. Open champion<\/a> also gave a nod to the 11-time NBA All-Star during her media day news conference Saturday by wearing a T-shirt that featured the longtime Philadelphia 76ers star\u2019s 1999 Slam magazine cover.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, he\u2019s a trailblazer,\u201d Osaka said<\/a> when asked about the shirt. \u201cHe\u2019s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he\u2019s done a lot in fashion, whether it\u2019s on purpose or not, but he\u2019s shifted the way that NBA players dress. And I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports, and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he\u2019s someone that I look up to in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Philadelphia <\/p>\n

Philadelphia 76ers\u2019 Allen Iverson plays against the Boston Celtics pn March 8, 2006.<\/p>\n

(Winslow Townson \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

With his hair, tattoos, jewelry and clothes, Iverson gained his reputation<\/a> as an NBA fashion trailblazer during his playing career from 1996-2010 \u2014 so much so that in 2005, when then-commissioner David Stern instituted a stricter dress code for players arriving to games, many felt it was in response to Iverson\u2019s look.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took the ass whooping for it, but the dress code thing I actually was just \u2014 I was 21,\u201d Iverson said on \u201cThe Breakfast Club<\/a>\u201d last year. \u201cWhere am I going after the game? I\u2019m going to the club. Before that, they were used to dudes wearing suits, and I was like, damn. I\u2019ve never worn a suit growing up \u2014 going to church or to a funeral was the only time I put on a suit … and the courtroom. I never wore a suit to the gym to play, to the park.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Osaka said she had never communicated with Iverson \u2014 \u201cbut hopefully he\u2019ll see this,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Turns out, he did. Iverson posted a photo of Osaka in the shirt featuring his image and a clip of her comments about him Monday on Instagram.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, what a honor!!\u201d Iverson wrote<\/a>. \u201cBIG FAN can\u2019t wait to meet you. @naomiosaka\u201d<\/p>\n