John Kim 
Earlier this year we told you about Brandblack and their ambitious goal of breaking into the sneaker game normally dominated by the footwear giants. With 2-time 6th Man of the Year Jamal Crawford leading the charge of Brandblack, the company continues to make noise on several fronts; not long ago they signed another NBA talent in Josh Smith and a month before that they signed NFL Pro Bowl Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson to dive into the football space. Clearly, the brand is making targeted moves in the athletic industry, but today is about their primary athlete and a brand new silhouette ready to bang with the big boys.
David Raysse founded Brandblack after spending several years in the footwear world designing for some of the industry leading brands. Raysse constantly collaborates with Brandblack Creative Director Billy Dill, who also brings a ton of unique footwear experience to the table. Together, they have created some of the most unique, interesting, and innovative sneaker designs we’ve seen in a while to put on feet of their NBA guys and some of their other ball playing brand advocates, as they’ve outfitted teams in the Seattle Pro-Am with uniforms and sneakers.
The Cali-based company is constantly iterating and pushing the envelop to bring a different taste and sophisticated style to an otherwise very athletic aesthetic seen with other basketball shoes. The latest of their creations is Jamal Crawford’s third signature shoe, the J.Crossover III, otherwise simply known as the JC3. The JC3 features an ultra-light, clean, simplistic nylon one-piece upper upper with a fused Thermoplastic urethane material that acts as a second skin on select sections of the upper for reinforcement. The shoe is built for performance to be able to stand the wear and tear of the highest level of player such as Crawford.
Brandblack considers the JC3 two shoes in one as they come with a removable shroud that wraps around the outside of the shoe, cradling the heel and ankle for support. The semi-sock construction along with the asymmetrical collar design are carefully engineered, making for a 1-1 glove-like fit. With years of experience designing shoes for some of the top basketball product brands in the world, you can tell Raysse has honed his craft as his attention to detail on the JC3 shoe is immaculate.
In creating the high performance JC3, technology was the focus, but the team stayed true to the Brandblack DNA and design language we’ve seen with their earlier silhouettes. The technology of the midsole and outsole is really where the JC3 takes things to a new level. Black foam is present, making for 20% more rebound than traditional foams and the mid foot shank is built for high stress performance. Brandblack’s Force Vector plate cradles the entire sole, creating a soft cushioned feel, making for superior cushioning, stability and balance on the court. Last, but not least, the multi-directional tread on the outsole was inspired by wiper blades, allowing the outsole to from every direction for maximized traction on multiple surfaces.
As we were afforded a closer look and discovered the Brandblack JC3 is chock full of technology and beautifully designed details, we still wanted to know more about Brandblack and their guy Jamal Crawford, so we asked him about working with Brandblack, his thoughts on his third shoe, other unique designs from the brand and what we can expect to see from them in the future. The JC3 is available now at Foot Action and Champs stores and online at Shoe Palace. To celebrate the launch of his third signature shoe we talked with Jamal Crawford. Read below to see what he had to say.
Sneaker News: Can you talk about your partnership with Brandblack and what it’s been like to be at the forefront of their brand narrative?
Jamal Crawford: The partnership with Brandblack has been great. I was honored to know that they wanted me to be the face of their brand. Very humbling, very exciting!
SN: What are your thoughts on the JC3? What are your favorite things about the shoe?
JC: The first time I saw the JC3 it was a rough sketch, but I saw the vision with it and where it was going. Then actually getting the finished product of the shoe, I loved it so much I didn’t even want to put it on to go play in it lol
SN: You’ve been an essential part of creating the DNA of Brandblack, what has it been like working with their team, seeing new products and being able to debut new design and colorways for the world to see?
JC: It’s been great working with the Brandblack team. They listen to my feedback and improve on those making an incredible shoe – both in performance and style. David (Brandblack founder and designer) is very open to new ideas, always pushing the boundaries, and always thinking into the future.. Not scared to take risk at all, and I respect that!
SN: Brandblack design language is quite different from the other big brands on-feet in the League. What have players around the league had to say about your shoes?
JC: It’s pretty cool because players are always looking at my feet and asking me “what are thooose” or excited to see the shoe up close or what color I have on because they love to make me special PE’s. Some of the biggest NBA stars have loved them too. (I’m not saying any names lol)
SN: What are your favorite traits of the new JC3?
JC: My favorite traits of the new shoe, is that the cushion and stability it provides. With the way I play, I need all the support I can get without feeling restricted. Very comfortable shoe..and I love they have my kids initials and where I’m from on the back of the shoe. Its in the details…Brandblack pays attention to the details.
SN: What should we be on the lookout for from you and Brandblack in the future?
JC: I think for myself and Brandblack, just know that we’re constantly pushing and never content with “good enough” we will always take it to the next level. Everything moving forward will always be the next level of whatever before.
SN: You had the game winner the other night and the Clippers are one of the top teams in the West. What do you guys have to do to contend for a title this year? What is your prediction of the outcome for this season?
JC: I think as we (LA Clippers) continue to gel, we will get better and better. We haven’t even come close to scratching the surface this season. Once everything starts really clicking, we will be tough to deal with. I believe the Sky is the limit for us…
