It was a night of baller fashion as James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, and entire Houston Rockets team celebrated their sneakerhead teammate, P.J. Tucker Jr., and the release of the “Urchin Rocks” sneaker he co-created with Giuseppe Zanotti.
For the big reveal, players reached into special sports lockers that the luxury brand had designed and uncovered the red and black, color-blocked sneaker. The shoe’s shape and signature 3D scales pay homage to the original “Urchin” low-top. Extra points for big men: the shoes come in a whopping size 19 — to accommodate teammate Zhou Qi.
“Sneakers for me are more than just an obsession, they’re a form of self-expression, a reflection of how I feel,” says Tucker. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Giuseppe and creating this sneaker with him has been a dream come true.”
The party featured the Rockets team and included a who’-who list of press, influencers, and other notable sneaker-savvy guests. The event spilled out of the Giuseppe store into a barricaded street party in the River Oaks District complete with fire pits, a cigar station, and — most popular among the players — a vintage “pop-a-shot” station.
For Zanotti, the chance to collaborate with P.J. was a natural fit. “I’ve always been inspired by people who are passionate about fashion and style, whether musicians, actors, or athletes,” says Zanotti. “It was great fun to work with P.J. on this special project.”
The Urchin Rocks sneakers retail for $995 and are available exclusively at the Giuseppe Zanotti Houston boutique and online.
ZhouQi, James EnnisIII, Clint Capela, P.J. Tucker, Jr., Brandon Knight, and Marquese Chriss rock the new kicks.
With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
