Throughout his five seasons since joining the Utah Jazz, Australian forward Joe Ingles has almost exclusively worn a variety of Kobe Bryant's signature Nike sneakers. The pair he donned earlier this week carried far more meaning than his usual white and black editions.
A hand-painted custom sneaker by footwear artist Kickstradomis -- his latest Kobe AD colorway -- was part of an effort from the Jazz organization during its annual Autism Awareness Night to help increase visibility for the condition that impacts one in 54 children in the state of Utah, and also raise donations for impactful charities
In January, Ingles and his wife Renae's two-year old son Jacob was diagnosed on the spectrum. In the months since, the family has leaned on therapists for dozens of hours each week to help work with both Jacob and the Ingles parents.
The custom sneakers featured a series of multicolored, interlocking puzzle pieces, the official symbol of autism awareness efforts, meant to represent the complex nature of the disorder and the diverse variety of people that it can affect.
"It was an honor to be contacted by Joe for this special project," Sal Amezcua, the artist known as Kickstradomis, told the team's website. "I love using my skills and platform for something as special as this, for the greater good."
Several of Ingles' teammates took part in the awareness efforts. Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Gobert and Ekpe Udoh each donned their own unique pairs, featuring a nod to "JACOB" in a variety of spots along their sneakers. Ingles also brought awareness to the 4 A.S.D. Kids organization in his native Australia, a group that helps fund treatment sessions and provides educational resources about the autism spectrum disorder to parents in need.
With the game itself carrying added emotion, the Jazz enjoyed a 115-110 win over the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, with Ingles delivering a career night. Before the game, the team's arena sponsor Vivint Smart Home pledged a $5,000 donation for each of Ingles' first five assists. He dished those out within his first 10 minutes of play, before dropping a career high 14 assists on the night. He finished the game just shy of a triple-double, also adding 11 points and nine rebounds.
Before the start of the fourth quarter, the Jazz organization and Vivint Smart Home, alongside Renae, presented a check for $1.2 million to organizations in the autism community. Soon, Ingles plans to auction off his sneakers, along with the pairs from each of his four teammates.
"It was just a special night," Ingles said .
A special moment to start the 4th quarter 💙#AutismAwareness | @vivintgivesback pic.twitter.com/MAI8ropwlJ
— x - Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 28, 2019
On Thursday, the San Antonio Spurs retired the jersey of longtime franchise icon Manu Ginobili. A four-time champion and Olympic gold medalist, Ginobili left the game as one of the sport's greatest international players, impacting a future generation of scorers with his inventive footwork and insistence on teamwork.
That impact didn't go unnoticed by the Spurs' newest scoring addition, DeMar DeRozan.
"I wish I would have had the opportunity to play with him," DeRozan told reporters.
When the Spurs announced in late October their plans to retire Ginobili's jersey, DeRozan and his marketing team at Goodwin Sports immediately approached Nike about creating a special edition tribute pair of sneakers to surprise Ginobili.
A player-exclusive colorway of the Kobe 4 Protro was soon crafted, in the light blue and white hues of Ginobili's native Argentina. A flag-inspired heel counter layered in some added detail. The metallic gold swoosh along the sides served as a double meaning -- a nod to the country's Sun of May flag emblem also highlighting one of Ginobili's proudest moments, when Argentina won the 2004 gold medal.
Since Bryant retired in 2016, DeRozan has helped to lead his ongoing signature series as part of a hand-picked group of players that has also included Giannis Antetokounmpo, Isaiah Thomas and Devin Booker.
Drafted a season after Kobe's retirement, current Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma never got a chance to play with Bryant, but he has become the latest player to receive his own exclusive colorways of Kobe's kicks.
Even under Kuzma's dual Nike deal and his partnership with the GOAT app, the custom-made size 15 pairs have only added to his collection of exclusive sneakers. Bryant wore just one size smaller, and while GOAT tracked down several vintage Kobe "PEs" made for him over the years, Kuzma has always preferred to play in his true size.
"I wish I was a 14!" Kuzma said. "Just that small difference means a lot in the sneaker world and how companies make shoes. It was kind of hard growing up as a kid wearing a 15, going to the mall and trying to find a shoe. I would have way more exclusive shoes if I was a smaller size."
After breaking out his gleaming purple patent leather Kobe 4 Protros, he can look ahead to potentially even more exclusives in Bryant's longtime colorways. While he's long loved playing in the Kobe series, Kuzma had a hard time switching away from Nike's new black and white Adapt BB, the brand's $350 auto-lacing performance sneaker.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum debuted the second colorway of the high-tech low-tops, in a light grey mesh upper, with metallic silver accents and subtle hints of red throughout. After debuting the model in early January, he's been wearing them ever since.
"It's like putting on a glove, and it's better than tying up your shoes," he said. "It fits right to your foot and gives you that level of comfort that you need."
Check out all of the best sneakers from around the NBA this week and vote for your favorite pair in our latest poll at the bottom. For real-time updates on the feet of the game's biggest stars, be sure to join our ESPN SneakerCenter Facebook Group.