NEW BASKETBALL SEASONSAME ADIDAS STANDARDOF PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

For hoop fans, there’s no more mellifluous a sound than the squeaks of rubber traction on freshly coated hardwood floor. October is upon us, which means NBA action is ready to tip-off and the game’s absolute best prepare themselves for 82 straight games of putting the team on their backs.
 
adidas Basketball’s roster of signature athletes represents the grit, grind, and the leadership required to take a squad to the Promised Land. Damian Lillard’s been doing exactly that for over a decade, only recently getting his feet wet in the Eastern Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks. Some intra-division rivalry with brand mate Donovan Mitchell, an elite player that the city of Cleveland is depending on. Out West is James Harden, who single-handedly redefined the perimeter game with his crafty step-backs and handles.
 
All three of these athletes boast some of the more compelling signature shoes out on the market right now. With the brand’s striking design language that impeccably combines minimalism with new-age technology, the Dame 9, Harden 8, and D.O.N. Issue 6 stand to be fixtures on any surface with a backboard and a rim. See our favorite selections of all three silhouettes below — each available right now on adidas.com.
.

Nine signature shoes in, the Dame series embraces evolution with a stunning low-cut design and an abstract three-stripes branding. The edginess of the ninth model is undeniable as the streamlined exterior design houses a snug interior bootie for that perfect supportive fit. Lightstrike cushioning on the midsole will allow you to make those efficient cuts and dashes through the lane just like Dame (well, almost). Available now is the “Purple Burst” colorway, joined by the Solar Red and the Bucks-themed “Home” edition.

The BOOST-cushioned Harden Vol. 8 is one of those shoes you just can’t look away from. adidas has managed to create something so boldly unique, much like the revolutionary game of the man the shoes were made for. First launching earlier this year, James Harden’s eighth signature shoe continues its cadence of dropping on the first and fifteenth of every month with plenty more to come. This “Purple Burst” is an easy stand-out, but you can go either route from there with the red (more daring) and the Core White (laid back).

Donovan Mitchell’s first-ever true low-cut basketball shoe is here, and it’s ready to take the hoop scene by storm with a slew of colorways planned for the future. Powered by Lightstrike cushioning in the midsole and a super-lightweight exterior mesh-like shell, the D.O.N. Issue 6 is Spida’s best yet — and the colorways back up that claim. Few can break those necks like the multi-colored version made for his Spida Camp, or you can stick with some basics like the Black/Solar Red or the Cobalt Blue.