Becoming Silk: Cam Burrell on Fashion, Food & NYFW

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There’s a version of Cam Burrell that most people already know: the Harlem Globetrotter they call Silk, dropping stepback threes and alley-oops in arenas around the world. This September, another version steps forward. Burrell is walking his first New York Fashion Week show, adding model, foodie, and self-described “modern gent” to a résumé that used to start and end with basketball.

I spent time with Burrell in New York this summer, watching him move between fittings, photo shoots, and the same easy warmth that makes him a fan favorite on tour. For The Hype Magazine’s “Becoming” issue, we sat down for a longer conversation about where that warmth comes from — Chicago, a winding road through four college programs, and a Globetrotters legacy he doesn’t take lightly.

What follows is that conversation, in Burrell’s own words.

Roots & the Globetrotter Life

Before Silk, there was just Cam — a quiet kid in Chicago who let his game do the talking. Here’s how a five-stop road to professional basketball built the player, and the person, he is today.

What did the winding road — Eastern Illinois, Highland, Western Illinois, Lindenwood — teach you that a straight line wouldn’t have?

Everyone’s path is different. Embracing your own journey is what makes you special.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every school taught me something — success, setbacks, depression, a coaching change, moments where I had to rebuild my confidence from the ground up. I was forced to grow as a player, and even more as a person.

A straight line wouldn’t have taught me resilience. When things didn’t go the way I pictured, I learned to adapt, keep showing up, and trust that the best was still ahead. There were moments I questioned everything about myself — and those are exactly the moments that made me appreciate every opportunity that came after. Setbacks are usually preparation for something bigger than you imagined.

How did “Silk” come about, and how does that version of you compare to the kid from Chicago?

The Globetrotters gave me the nickname “Silk.” After I was invited to a tryout, they saw the way I played — smooth, easy dunks — and it became a personality I bring to every show on tour.

Growing up in Chicago, I was a quiet kid. I was never the loudest person in the room. I just loved basketball and let my game speak for itself — they used to call me “the Silent Assassin.”

The biggest difference now is that I’m getting comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone. Being a Globetrotter has pushed me to entertain crowds and connect with people all over the world. At the core, I’m still that same quiet kid from Chicago — just with more recognition now.

What does it mean to wear the Globetrotters jersey — not just play pro ball, but carry that legacy?

Wearing a Globetrotters jersey means representing something bigger than basketball. You’re carrying a legacy that’s inspired people around the world for generations.

For me, it’s about inspiring the youth — giving kids something to smile about and someone to look up to. It’s an honor I never take for granted.

Becoming the Modern Gent

Off the court, Burrell is just as intentional about how he shows up — style, mindset, and the difference between looking sharp and actually being a gentleman.

What does “modern gent” mean to you — and what does it explicitly not mean?

Becoming a modern gent is about how I carry myself every day — confidence, discipline, style, and character, while always respecting the people around me.

The most important thing I’ve learned about being a gentleman isn’t how you dress or present yourself. It’s about your actions, your mindset, and how you make people feel.

Who or what shaped your sense of personal style, on and off the court?

My style has been shaped by my environment and my experiences. Growing up in Chicago, basketball was always a big influence — how you looked, how you carried yourself, how you represented yourself always mattered.

On the court, I lean toward confidence and individuality. Off the court, traveling the world has expanded my perspective on fashion. I like blending athleticism with a clean, elevated look — something that represents where I came from and where I’m going.

Is there a piece in your closet that says more about who you’re becoming than who you’ve been?

Probably one of my suits. Growing up, and all through college, I was always known as a basketball player — and that will always be a huge part of me. But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized I’m more than an athlete. I’m a creator, an entertainer, a model, an entrepreneur.

Putting on a suit represents that evolution — the confidence I worked for, the maturity, stepping into new spaces while still carrying the same work ethic and discipline that got me here. It’s a reminder I’m not leaving basketball behind. I’m expanding beyond it.

The Runway Debut

This month, Burrell adds runway model to his résumé, walking his first New York Fashion Week show.

Walk me through how the NYFW opportunity came together. Was modeling always the plan, or did it find you?

Modeling was always something I had in the back of my mind, but I never had a clear path to it. Through The Hype Magazine, I connected with Ahvere and Elliot Carlyle, and those conversations opened doors. Elliot introduced me to designers, which led to photo shoots in New York and, eventually, New York Fashion Week.

It’s been surreal watching something that used to be just a thought start becoming reality. It’s a reminder that the right connections — and putting yourself in the right rooms — can turn ideas into opportunities.

What’s actually running through your head backstage before a runway walk, compared to before a Globetrotters game?

Before a runway walk, it’s a mix of excitement and nerves, because it’s a completely different world from basketball. I’m thinking about my posture, my confidence, reminding myself that I belong in that space.

Before a Globetrotters game, it’s more about bringing energy, entertaining the crowd, creating memories. Basketball is where I’m most comfortable, but fashion has pushed me to explore another side of myself. In both moments, I’m just focused on being present, trusting my preparation, and representing myself the best way I can.

What do you want people who only know you as an athlete to take away from seeing you on that runway?

I want people to see that I’m more than just an athlete. Basketball is the foundation of who I am, but there are so many other sides to me — fashion, creativity, cooking, storytelling.

Walking the runway is me showing that it’s okay to evolve and step into different spaces. You don’t have to be limited to one identity. You can be an athlete and still explore every other passion that makes you who you are.

The Foodie Side

Chicago raised a foodie right alongside the athlete. Burrell talks cooking, comfort food, and the family restaurant that set his standard.

Where does the foodie side of you show up most — cooking, hunting down spots on the road, a cuisine you’re chasing right now?

It shows up most through cooking and exploring. Growing up in Chicago, food has always been a big part of culture and bringing people together.

Being on the road with the Globetrotters has let me experience different cities and cuisines around the world. I love trying new spots, but there’s something special about being in the kitchen and creating something myself.

Is there a dish or a restaurant from Chicago that still sets the bar for everything else?

Chicago has so many great food spots, but what stands out to me most is the soul behind the food. Places like my family’s restaurant, The Soul Food Lounge 2, represent what food means to me — community, culture, bringing people together. That’s the standard I look for wherever I go.

Food, fashion, basketball — where do you see the overlap between them, if any?

The connection is creativity and self-expression. Basketball is how I express myself through movement. Fashion is how I express myself visually. Food is how I express myself through creation.

They’re all different ways to tell a story and connect with people.

Becoming

The issue’s theme, reflected back: what Burrell is building next, and the definition of success he’s already outgrown.

If “Becoming” is the theme of this issue, what are you in the middle of becoming right now?

A more complete version of myself. I’ll always be a basketball player, but I’m also becoming a creator, an entrepreneur, an entertainer — someone who can impact people beyond the court. I’m learning to embrace every side of who I am.

What’s a version of success you wanted five years ago that you’ve since let go of?

Five years ago, success was mostly about proving myself as a basketball player and reaching the highest level possible. I still love basketball, but I’ve learned success is bigger than what happens on the court. Now it’s about impact, freedom, creating opportunities, and building a life that represents who I truly am.

What do you want the next chapter — after the Globetrotters, after this NYFW debut — to actually look like?

Expansion. I want to keep building my brand and creating opportunities in entertainment, fashion, food, and business, while staying connected to basketball. The goal is a legacy that’s bigger than one career or one moment.

What’s Next

Burrell just walked his first New York Fashion Week show this month at Emerge! Fashion Runway’s 15th Anniversary for the debut of the Saint London x FEDÚ Collection by Grammy Award-winning recording artist, October London, and New York-based bespoke designer, Ilbert J. Sanchez…one more step in a becoming that, by his own account, isn’t finished, and was never meant to be.

To follow the movement and to connect with Cam online, visit his Instagram at: www.instagram.com/camm_smoov

The post Becoming Silk: Cam Burrell on Fashion, Food & NYFW appeared first on The Hype Magazine.

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