Tre Johnson arrived at Barclays Center on Wednesday for Round One of the 2025 NBA Draft in a look that blended formal tailoring with preppy uniform codes.

The 19-year-old Texas Longhorns star, who is projected to go fourth to the Charlotte Hornets, wore a double-breasted navy suit jacket over matching knee-length tailored shorts — a schoolboy silhouette rendered in what looks like crisp suiting wool. A white dress shirt and slim black tie sharpened the formality, while stacked white socks and loafers brought the look into playful, directional territory.

The shoes in question were Dr. Martens’ Adrian Bex Loafer in polished black leather. Originally introduced in the 1980s, the Adrian is known for its chunky yet compact profile, tonal kiltie fringe and unisex styling. Johnson styled the unisex shoe with ribbed white socks scrunched above the ankle — a nod to classic prep uniforms but recontextualized here. The low-profile silhouette echoed a broader shift toward minimal, pared-back footwear seen across menswear this season.

Just one day earlier, Victor Wembanyama appeared at the Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris wearing black patent loafers with an almond toe and stacked heel. Though Wembanyama’s styling skewed more futuristic — pairing the shoes with utility cargos and a varsity-trimmed bomber — the shared silhouette reflects a new uniformity in men’s red carpet footwear: grounded, shaped and quietly assertive.

This isn’t an isolated choice. From Jonathan Bailey’s Tabi loafers to Mahershala Ali’s tassel-trimmed slip-ons, loafers and ballet-inspired styles have increasingly replaced the heavy-soled dress shoes and sneakers that once dominated the appearances of athletes. The through line is proportion: these shoes sit low to the ground and hug the foot, offering visual contrast to wide-leg pants or, in Johnson’s case, bare calf.

The two-night 2025 NBA Draft is set to take place June 25–26 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, marking the league’s 79th edition and the second consecutive split-format event. Dallas earned the No. 1 pick and is expected to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg, followed in the lottery by San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte. The draft spotlight includes top prospects like Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Jeremiah Fears and Johnson.