Jerry Lorenzo and Fear of God Athletics Debut New Team in Overtime’s OTE League

For the upcoming Overtime OTE League season, Fear of God is sponsoring its own team, Fear of God Athletics, and will provide custom jerseys, warmups, and even sneakers for the entire roster.

As part of this new collaboration, The Quintessential Gentleman was invited to introduce the new team alongside former NBA star Matt Barnes, Fear of God’s founder Jerry Lorenzo, and Coach Cilk McSweeney.

In the world of fashion, few brands rival the story of Fear of God. Founded in 2013 by California native Lorenzo, the luxury fashion house has achieved a meteoric rise to success, cementing its status among industry titans like Kanye West and the late Virgil Abloh. The brand has also collaborated with iconic names like Nike, the NCAA, and, more recently, Adidas.

Their latest collaboration brings Fear of God to Overtime OTE, a premier developmental basketball league. Founded in 2021, Overtime OTE is designed for American and international players aged 16–20, offering an alternative path to play professional-level basketball without having to join a high school or college team, while also earning a salary.

The conversation among Lorenzo, Barnes and McSweeney unfolded like a story. They began by sharing how the collaboration came to life. The idea originated with Lorenzo’s son, who preferred watching the OTE League over college basketball. Inspired by the league’s impact on youth culture, Lorenzo partnered with Adidas to create a team that aligns with the Fear of God ethos: purposeful and intentional.

“I wanted to create something with intention and purpose,” Lorenzo explained. “Something that felt brand new.”

The collaboration, they agreed, needed to be more than just a sum of its parts. With that philosophy in mind, they asked questions like, What does the team need to play well? What does the gear need to support performance? What does the coach need to lead effectively? All of this culminated in Lorenzo’s reflection: “And on the final day, God said it is good.” Every element of the team was designed to meet its objectives with purpose and quality.

Coach McSweeney and star player Shon Abaev then discussed their enthusiasm for Fear of God and their aspirations for the upcoming season. Like any team, they’re aiming for a championship in their debut season and hope to build a lasting legacy for the Fear of God brand.

For Coach McSweeney, however, the mission is about more than winning. “My goal is to build young men first and basketball players second,” he shared. The team’s ultimate objective is to create a culture of family and demonstrate to players what it truly means to be men.

Closing with a note of reflection, Lorenzo shared his long-term vision for the partnership with OTE: “Partnering with OTE is a long conversation; I don’t want this to just be a moment.”

His future vision centers on mutual growth and learning. Lorenzo explained that, in developing the brand and its gear, they are already planning for future seasons, assuring us that this exciting collaboration is only beginning to unfold.