Month: February 2023

With NBA All-Star Weekend heading into its final day, adidas Basketball is celebrating two of its All-Star Game participants by unveiling their newest signature sneakers — the D.O.N. Issue #5 and the Dame Extended Play. Designed for Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard respectively, the shoes arrive with the division’s newfound momentum created by its “Remember The Why” collection. In addition, James Harden’s previously revealed silhouette — the Harden Vol. 7 — has been unveiled in eight new looks. Now, following our breakdown of adidas Basketball’s newest lifestyle offerings, we’re diving into the three stars’ new silhouettes and colorways.The latest issue of Donovan Mitchell’s D.O.N. series arrives in a dynamic build with a mesh base outfitted with perforated overlays. Various oval shapes reveal the base layer and add geometry to its construction as its Three Stripes reach from the midfoot’s sole to the beginning of each side’s upper. Mitchell’s “Spida” logo appears at the tongue while the medial portion of the lacing system displays it alongside the adidas logo and “ADIDAS BASKETBALL /// D.O.N. ISSUE 5” text. Colorway options begin with a blue that leverages gradient patterns across its overlays and midsole while an orange-red plays a role in accenting the shoe. It has also been prepared in a classic black and white look that sees a dark base coated in white details.Sharpshooter Damian Lillard is one of adidas Basketball’s most veteran athletes. Since 2015, he has assisted hoopers around the world by presenting a sizable roster of performance-oriented sneakers. Now, he takes his next step forward with the release of the Dame Extended Play. Notably, the shoe sees a perforated midfoot strap take center stage, offering greater lockdown. Its textile upper features a sloped shape that prominently displays the Three Stripes vertically on each side’s heel. Bounce Pro technology returns at the midsole, ensuring that he’s able to elevate smoothly as he drives to the basket. As for collaborative branding, Lillard’s “D” logo arrives at the heel while “DAME TIME” can be read on each side of the lacing system. Similar to Mitchell’s D.O.N. Issue #5, blue with orange and black and white colorways have been prepared for the model.At the top of the month, the latest chapter of James Harden’s signature shoe saga was revealed in a dazzling “Silver Metallic.” Since then, an all-red “Better Scarlet” and Stormtrooper-esque “Cloud White” have been shared. Now, eight more color arrangements of the puffer jacket-inspired sneaker have been previewed. First, a “Pulse Olive” combined with matching “Remember The Why” Chapter 03 apparel, opting for a suede finish at its toe box. The sneaker was also included in the brand’s HBCU collection with a purple and black “Prairie View A&M University” colorway that nods to the school at the heel and pull tabs. Beyond that, color compositions from an electric pink to white and blue bolster the shoe’s much-anticipated March launch. Throughout these looks, the sneaker’s signature BOOST and Lightstrike midsole supports various material compositions and patterns at its upper.Official specifications of the newly revealed performance models have not yet been announced. However, stay tuned as each pair is scheduled to launch this year via adidas.

Last November, adidas Basketball began to transform its identity with the introduction of the “Remember The Why” collection. Its initial apparel launch for Chapter 01 presented a range that maneuvered calmly from one soft color to another — arriving on relaxed pieces with sharp branding elements. Pairing with this, the adidas Rivalry Low 86 launched as a complementary footwear option. Alongside the reveal of a fitting Chapter 02 sequel, new footwear silhouettes such as the Harden Vol. 7 have appeared. Now, this initial build up culminates with adidas’ “Remember The Why” showcase as an array of never-before-seen sneakers and colorways were on display for NBA All-Star Weekend 2023.Kicking things off, Bad Bunny’s Forum Buckle Low makes its return by celebrating the Cangrejeros de Santurce (Crabmen of Santurce) basketball team — a franchise based in San Juan that the Puerto Rican artist became a co-owner of in 2021. Its complex upper arrives in an off-white with orange and navy accents scattered across the Three Stripes, lining, heel and tongue while the cream toe box appears with a basketball-inspired pattern. The silhouette’s signature buckle strap sees orange embroidered text that reads “Santurce Cangrejeros” across the two shoes hidden underneath its Velcro mechanism. Additional collaborative hits include the team’s logo on the tongue and golden text at the lateral’s midfoot that reads “1962 1968 1998 1999” on the left shoe and “2000 2001 2003 2007” on the right shoe, nodding to the team’s eight championships.Last year, the late Kobe Bryant’s Kobe 1 — reintroduced as the Crazy 1 in 2013 — made a return in several of its OG colorways. Boasting over two decades in its lifespan, it has aged smoothly into a sneaker world where clean linework and bulky builds are emphasized. For 2023, adidas has now opted to evolve this classic by introducing the Crazy IIInfinity. Pictured first in the gallery, it is arriving in a multitude of colorways. Its construction clearly draws from its predecessor while integrating modern design elements to freshen the look. The lacing system is stowed away beneath a zip-up shroud with its toe box taking a more prominent role. Debossed Three Stripes branding returns to each side as the shape of both the lateral and medial appears in a sleeker form. At the collar, an even cut further emphasizes its polished frame.That wasn’t all for adidas as the Superteam 2000 S and Superteam Slide — the above gallery’s second and third silhouettes — were also showcased. With the Superteam 2000 S, sharp lines run from front to back in a streamlined design that keeps branding to a minimum. Similar to the Crazy IIInfinity, the laces are mostly hidden with a performance fabric covering all but the uppermost portion of the lacing system. Leveraging a mixed material build, mesh combines with leather and two types of suede in this preview of the shoe. Its partner in crime — the Superteam Slide — also goes minimal with branding as an oversized sole unit sneakily carries the Three Stripes at the midfoot of the lateral’s sole. The footbed features extra support with its raised edges throughout, bouncing between suede and leather in material use.Circling back to the Forum and Rivalry, the Forum Low CL and Rivalry Low have been dressed in a total of nine collegiate compositions. Schools featured include the University of Miami, Grambling State University, University of Washington, University of Louisville, Indiana University, Texas A&M University, University of Nebraska, Arizona State University and Kansas University. The pairs prominently utilize each university’s colors while also displaying their logos at the tongue.Despite its ongoing evolution, the Crazy 1 isn’t done just yet. Its highly sought-after “Black/Noir” look is returning with its signature black-on-black presentation. In addition, the Crazy 8 is back in the mix as “Off-White/Sesame” neatly covers its wavy structure. Lastly, the city of New York is once again paid homage to with fresh looks on the Attitude Hi and Rivalry Low 86. Named the “Pinstripe Pack,” the city’s iconic blue and orange are joined by off-white details with “NY” branding arriving at the tongue and heel of both shoes.Stay tuned for official release information regarding each shoe as adidas Basketball continues to usher in this new era throughout 2023.