$1.4 million NIL-valued Paige Bueckers reacts to ex-NBA coach rocking her signature shoe and Azzi Fudd custom tshirt

Paige Bueckers saw a unique display of support from former NBA coach Alex McLean on Monday on Instagram. He posted a photo of himself donning a Bueckers x Azzi Fudd T-shirt while lacing up the UConn star's player edition Nike G.T. Hustle 3. He tagged both Huskies players.

Bueckers, whose NIL valuation is $1.4 million (according to On3), reacted to the shoutout within hours, reposting it on her story with heart-hand emojis.

Bueckers' reacts to Alex McLean's story

The Paige Bueckers x Nike G.T. Hustle 3 are the first custom sneakers by a college athlete with the brand. The UConn guard debuted the shoes on Dec. 7, 2024, during a game against Louisville.

Alex McLean held several coaching ranks with the Washington Wizards from 2017 to 2023. He was the player development coach under Scott Brooks until 2021, when he also earned the role of assistant coach. He became the director of player development/assistant coach when Wes Unseld Jr. became the franchise's head coach, until 2023.

Since then, McLean has continued his involvement in basketball through training and mentoring the coming generation of players, including Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Arkansas' Saylor Poffenbarger and UCLA Bruins' KiKi Rice.

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Paige Bueckers gifted a pair of sneakers to her teammate and coach Geno Auriemma

As Paige Bueckers made history by becoming the first NIL athlete to launch their player edition sneakers, teammates Ashlynn Shade, Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong and others joined by donning them against Louisville. While UConn coach Geno Auriemma said that he is yet to open the box, he said that the sneakers have quickly become a hit among college hoopers.

The colors of the shoes are inspired by Bueckers' favorite shades: baby blue and lavender. Pink and purple highlights on the laces compliment the sky-blue radial knit upper material.

The shoes also harbor personalized elements to capture Paige Bueckers' basketball journey from her hometown of Edina, Minnesota, to becoming one of the best players in UConn history. The area codes 860 (Connecticut) and 612 (Minnesota) are mentioned on the tongue of each shoe. Moreover, a message from her father, "Be You, Be Great," is also inscribed on the heel.