Posted by Actively Black
on September 25, 2026
The Houston Chronicle and its sister site Chron covered the Actively Black x Houston Rockets “Hometown Heroes” collaboration in February 2024, telling the story of how Lanny Smith, the Houston native and former University of Houston guard who founded the Black-owned athleisure brand Actively Black in 2020, came home to partner with the team he grew up cheering for.
For the Tribe, this one is personal. Houston is where Lanny first dreamed of the NBA, and both stories framed the collab as the moment his first dream and his second life met on the same court.
Key takeaways
- The Houston Chronicle reported that the collection featured a black sweatshirt and a black T-shirt carrying the Hometown Heroes script, the Rockets’ Dunkstronaut logo and the Actively Black logo.
- According to the Chronicle, Lanny placed “Houston” on one inner forearm sleeve and “Rockets” on the other, so both words show when fans throw up “The H.”
- The apparel went on sale at the Rockets team store on a Saturday and made its gameday debut the next day before Houston’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Lanny took the pre-game first shot, the Chronicle reported.
- Chron noted that Lanny played four years at the University of Houston, earned All-Conference USA honors in 2005-06, and saw his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings end 33 days after it began because of a knee injury.
- Chron reported that the brand’s first inventory, which Lanny expected to last three months, sold out in three weeks.
- The Chronicle noted that Actively Black general manager Bianca Winslow also grew up in Houston and played basketball at Bellaire High and the University of Houston.
In Lanny's words
“I live in Los Angeles, but a part of me will always be in Houston”
— Lanny Smith, to Chron
“We’re an all-Black brand. We take a lot of pride in that”
— Lanny Smith, to Chron
“To be back in the building for this so many years later is an incredible feeling.”
— Lanny Smith, to the Houston Chronicle
Why it matters
An NBA franchise choosing a Black-owned brand to tell a hometown story matters. According to the Chronicle, Rockets retail leadership praised Lanny’s understanding of Houston culture and Rockets history, and that knowledge shaped the design down to the sleeves. That is what happens when the culture designs for the culture.
The coverage also put our all-Black team on record. Chron highlighted Lanny’s pride in running an all-Black business and in the people the brand has been able to uplift, from Houston to Los Angeles. We’re not asking for a seat at the table. We’re building our own table, and in February 2024 we set it up at Toyota Center.
Shop the story
Rep the same performance fabrics that powered the collab in our Performance collection, and learn more about the Houston roots behind the brand on our About Us page.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Actively Black?
Actively Black was founded in 2020 by Lanny Smith, a Houston native and former University of Houston guard whose NBA career with the Sacramento Kings ended after a knee injury.
What was the Actively Black x Houston Rockets collaboration?
According to the Houston Chronicle, it was a Hometown Heroes collection of a black sweatshirt and black T-shirt combining the Hometown Heroes script, the Dunkstronaut logo and the Actively Black logo, released in February 2024.
What did the Houston Chronicle say about Actively Black?
The Chronicle described the collab as a new kind of NBA debut for Lanny Smith and noted the brand’s earlier work with Disney on Black Panther 2 merchandise, Muhammad Ali’s estate and Team Nigeria at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Is Actively Black Black-owned?
Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand, and Lanny Smith told Chron it is an all-Black brand.
Read the full feature: Rockets tap former UH guard Lanny Smith for ‘Hometown Heroes’ collaboration, Houston Chronicle (February 2024)
