Timed to the NBA Draft, New Era Cap Co. presented “The Path to the Cap,” an exploration of NBA star and 2015 NBA Draft second overall pick D’Angelo Russell’s journey from neighborhood baller to NBA professional athlete.

Produced by New Erar, the film “celebrates the moment Russell donned his new team’s hat, a symbol of success after a young lifetimes’ worth of perseverance and hard work.” The short film travels back to Russell’s roots in his hometown of Louisville, tracing his NBA success story to its origin point. Candid interviews with his parents and two brothers give a behind-the-scenes look at what drove Russell, including a previously unseen sibling rivalry that spawned his competitive spirit.

 

“The feeling of getting drafted and putting on that team hat was something I dreamed about forever. I worked my entire life to put on that cap,” said Russell. “It is an incredible honor to have worked alongside New Era to tell the story of how I got to that moment, and I’m excited for every player in this year’s draft class to realize that same dream.”

“The Path to the Cap” celebrates New Era’s ongoing partnership with the league around the NBA Draft. In 2018, the brand introduced new editions of the emblematic lids; in addition to individual team logos and colorways, each hat in the collection features a series of unique design elements, featuring custom patches and pins that pay homage to the local city neighborhoods that host the NBA’s 30 teams.

“The NBA Authentics: Draft Series collection is New Era Cap’s most exciting NBA collection to date,” said Mark Maidment, senior vice president, brand at New Era Cap. “We wanted to create visual representations of the excitement these young men will feel for their new homes and fan families. The cap marks the end of their first path and the beginning of the next: the opportunity to represent each of these cities come opening night.”

New Era is best known for being the official on-field cap for Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

Video courtesy of New Era