Top 5 Current Adidas Basketball Silhouettes: how today’s Adidas shoes stack up against the past

Top 5 Current Adidas Basketball Silhouettes: how today’s Adidas shoes stack up against the past

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by | Jul 30, 2019 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

With August just a few days away that means we are one month closer to the NBA season. Late summer/early fall is prime time for signature athletes to be unveiling and releasing their new signature sneakers for the upcoming season. Tenured Adidas ambassadors James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Derrick Rose will each be releasing their fourth, sixth, and tenth signature shoes respectively. Newcomer Donovan Mitchell will be joining the ranks of Adidas basketball with the release of his own signature shoe as well. With each athlete having their own buzz surrounding their shoe, we took this opportunity to rank the top five current Adidas signature basketball silhouettes (and one non-signature) purely based on aesthetics. After doing so, we then put these five Adidas basketball shoes up against five other signature shoes (with the fifth being a non-signature) from the 90’s, early and mid 2000’s endorsed by three stripe athletes.

 

Top 5 Current Adidas Basketball Silhouettes

 

                 

(1) Adidas Harden Vol. 4 

Kicking off our list at the #1 spot is the (rumored) Adidas Harden Vol. 4. The 2018 NBA MVP is the clear face of Adidas basketball and his signature sneaker line seems to be pulling the most weight for the last few years. Harden’s fourth rendition in his line of shoes seems to have more depth and design elements than his rather over-simplistic third model. Any player with quick feet, likes a low-to-the-ground ride, and prefers a low-top model will most likely enjoy this shoe. Better colorways will for sure give this Vol. 4 more attention and demand when it comes to the court. Look for James Harden to be taking numerous “step-backs” in these sneakers come the 2019-20 season.

 

 

                

(2) Adidas Dame 6

If this was last year then Damian Lillard’s fifth signature shoe definitely would not have been this high up on the list, with his last model resembling that of a lego brick. Dame’s (rumored) sixth model looks much more sleeker and an overall appealing design compared to his last few runs. The slanted three stripes up by the collar of the shoe is a nice touch and it already looks like some flashy color options are on the way. Apart from the overwhelming demand for Hardens when it comes to Adidas basketball, don’t be surprised to see a good amount of hoopers lacing up the Dame 6 during the 2019-20 campaign.

 

 

               

(3) Adidas D.O.N. Issue #1

In what looks to be a very promising first signature sneaker, Donovan Mitchell takes the third spot in our Top 5 Current Adidas Basketball Silhouettes. Mitchell is young, explosive, a scorer, a leader, and has a great personality. All of that, along with him being on a contending Utah Jazz team, will for sure help him move units with his D.O.N. Issue #1′s. Mitchell’s “Spida” logo sits predominantly on the tongue of his shoe as well as a clean looking toe in the front. So far, the colorways on Mitchell’s shoes pave the way for an exciting season to come. Can Spida’s signature line end up contending with the likes of Harden and D-Lillard’s?

 

 

               

(4) Adidas D-Rose 10

Yes, it’s true, if you didn’t know, Derrick Rose still has a signature line going with Adidas even after all of his injuries, jumping from team to team, and currently being a back-up in the NBA. D-Rose signed a 13-year $185M contract with the three stripes back in 2012 so Adidas is still paying him and more than likely has an obligation to keep pumping out signature models for him. This model sits at #4 on our list due to it being a little chunky and “boot-like.” It’s as if the D-Rose line is an afterthought at this point when it comes to design because basketball players just aren’t demanding them in the U.S. Thoughts about D-Rose and his line of sneakers take a complete 180 when you’re over in China. Rose is still one of the most popular athletes in all of China with his jerseys and sneakers being in high demand annually.

 

 

               

(5) Adidas N3xt L3v3l

Adidas likes to push the envelope when it comes to design and doing new concepts. A shoe with no laces, no straps, no velcro, and no zippers? – sign Adidas up for that shoe! The Adidas N3xt L3v3l will for sure catch your eye on a sneaker shelf but possibly the biggest thing the shoe has going for it is that Trae Young wears it on court. Young, Adidas’ budding young ambassador, came in second place for the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year Award. The shoe is intriguing as it is bold, and hey, at least you never have to worry about them coming untied! With Trae Young being an Adidas athlete on the rise, do you see him getting his own signature sneaker line in the future?

 

Top 5 Adidas Basketball Silhouettes from the Past (90’s, early and mid-2000’s)

 

               

(1) Adidas Crazy 8 (KB8)

Originally debuting in 1998, the Adidas Crazy 8 (originally called “Adidas KB8”), was endorsed by Kobe Bryant. The three stripes had to change the name to “Crazy 8” during the shoe’s initial retro run in 2007 since Kobe was obviously under contract with Nike. Adidas’ 90’s/early 2000’s basketball sneakers had bold lines and futuristic design elements, some with better fan reception than others (**cough** Adidas Kobe 2). The Crazy 8 has always been a favorite amongst both basketball players and casual wearers. Derrick Rose wore a few colorways back when he was with the Bulls along with former Adidas endorser, Jimmy Butler. Putting the Adidas Crazy 8 at our #1 spot was an easy decision.

 

 

                               

(2) Adidas T-Mac 2

At one point Tracy McGrady was one of the baddest men in the entire league. As a defender, you did not want to see T-Mac rolling down the lane ready to put you on yet another one of his posters. The shoe was originally released in 2003 and is considered one of, if not the best, of his entire line. The five stripes angling across the front toe of each shoe gave the pair a streamlined look. It also didn’t hurt that Tracy McGrady was dominating the league at this point in time and he had one of the sickest logos of any signature athlete ever. Lebron James even wore this model in high school as Adidas was the official outfitter of his SVSM squad. If you were hooping in the early 2000’s then you definitely know why these deserve the #2 spot on our list.

 

 

               

(3) Adidas Gil-Zero Low

You can’t mention killers on the court in the NBA from the mid-2000’s without the name Gilbert Arenas. Arenas was a match-up nightmare and it seemed as if every morning Sports Center was showing another one of his buzzer beater game-winning jump shots. Arenas had a brief stint with Adidas, but he had one surefire hit on his hands with the Gil-Zero that released in 2006. Released in both mid and low-cut form, Arenas opted to rock the low-cut version, years before Kobe’s 4th signature installment made low-cut basketball shoes even more mainstream. 2006 had to be the height of Arenas’ sneaker days, as it was only a few years later that he was a sneaker free agent and his signature line was long gone. Oddly enough, Gil became more known for what he chose to wear on court when he wasn’t apart of the three stripes anymore.

 

 

               

(4) Adidas Garnett 3

The Adidas Garnett 3 was originally released in 2006 and was KG’s last signature sneaker as a member of the Timberwolves. The shoe featured leather uppers and full-length “bounce” cushioning. Adidas hasn’t used this type of bounce cushioning in many years and have instead created a new cushion, but chose to also call it “bounce” (Alpha Bounce, Pro Bounce, etc.). Hard to believe that at one point in the mid-2000’s Adidas had a stacked line-up of prime Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, and Dwight Howard all marketing their basketball sneakers. The demand for “big men” shoes just isn’t there like it used to be.

 

 

                                      

(5) Adidas Pro Model S

Back in the mid-2000’s Adidas wanted to revive their classic Pro Model sneaker, but make it a suitable performer for on the court in today’s standards. Originally coming to retail during the 2007/2008 season, the Adidas Pro Model S was a favorite for team basketball. This model was offered in literally dozens of colorways, to match any team color. Additionally, ‘three stripe’ plastic inserts came with each pair so you could further accentuate your shoes to match any uniform concept. The Pro Model S bridged the gap between classic basketball and new-age performer, and was a lock for the #5 pick on our list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jul 30, 2019 No Comments
Roster changes to the USA Men’s basketball team

Roster changes to the USA Men’s basketball team

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by | Jul 24, 2019 | Featured, NBA

There’s been much talk about the USA men’s basketball team this summer. The team’s roster has changed tremendously over the past few weeks which has been a shock to many basketball fans. The USA men’s team will be competing in the FIBA world cup starting August 31st. They haven’t even started practice yet and players are starting to drop left and right.

Some of the notable players being Anthony Davis, James Harden, Zion Williamson, Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard, CJ Mccollum, Bradley Beal, Tobias Harris and Demar Derozan. This sudden change in players commitments many believe has to do with the departure of Kevin Durant from the Golden State Warriors, which players saw as a definite end to their reign over the league if their defeat in the Finals wasn’t enough.Then the reigning champs lose their star player in Kawhi Leonard, which opened up the NBA Championship contention even more. So, Many players have decided to withdraw from the USA team to work on their individual games in preparation for championship runs with their respective teams.

Image result for usa men's basketball practice james harden

Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes tweeted:

“USA Basketball making case that NBA players often produce career years following offseason playing for national team. But this summer of World Cup, players prioritizing staying home to get better acclimated with teammates in an upcoming season without a clear-cut title favorite.”

 

The current USA men’s basketball roster as of today is:

  • Harrison Barnes
  • Khris Middleton
  • Myles Turner
  • P.J. Tucker
  • Donovan Mitchell
  • Kyle Kuzma
  • Brook Lopez
  • Paul Millsap
  • Kevin Love
  • Kyle Lowry
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Marcus Smart
  • Andre Drummond
  • Kemba Walker
  • Thaddeus Young
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Julius Randle

The roster is subject to change, so stay updated on the new roster changes to the USA men’s basketball team.

Jul 24, 2019 No Comments
Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

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by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NBA

While the precedent of former franchise greats serving as advisers to their younger mentees and current team members is not new, asking your Hall of Fame Power Forward to fulfill a critical coaching spot on your staff surely sounds like a new mountain to climb.

For the San Antonio Spurs, an organization and team enriched in the advice of its successful predecessors, asking a talent like The Big Fundamental to coach alongside his greatest adversary in Gregg Popovich seems like such a Spurs way of doing things.

The standard of treating excellence as a habit is a Spurs tradition, and on Monday afternoon, the Spurs organization seemed to uphold this tradition, as they announced to the NBA universe that Tim Duncan will rejoin sides with Gregg Popovich as an Assistant Coach for the 2019-2020 season. Duncan, a 1997 Wake Forest graduate, played 19 seasons with the Spurs and won five championships, two league MVP awards, three Finals MVPs, made 10 All-NBA First Teams and became the franchise leader in points before retiring in the summer of 2016.

The legendary Power Forward will join a voluminous coaching staff, along with a former assistant coach of his in Becky Hammon. Also joining the staff with Duncan will be Will Hardy, a former Spurs basketball operations intern that graduated from Williams College in 2010.

When asked about the familiarity of his new coaching acquisition, Popovich spoke highly of Duncan’s loyalty to the franchise he called home for nearly 20 years.

“It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan’s assistant, that he returns the favor,” Popovich said.

Spurs fans and fans of the big three will be more than excited to see their towering (literally and figuratively) example of class, leadership, and professionalism on the Spurs coaching staff for every minute of every game this upcoming season.

Jul 22, 2019 No Comments
Battle for Los Angeles 2019-2020: A Lakers-Clippers Rivalry

Battle for Los Angeles 2019-2020: A Lakers-Clippers Rivalry

NBA

by | Jul 17, 2019 | NBA

This offseason has led to some of the most interesting Free Agency moves that NBA fans have seen in quite some time. And while we are left to speculate of how our favorite teams will stack up in the upcoming season, there has been an underlying question in the back of some fans’ minds regarding the state of Los Angeles basketball and which team will prove to be the better ball club.

In years past there has always been one team to show its dominance over the other whether it had been the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. Looking back into the history of the league, the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, while the Clippers moved to Los Angeles fairly recently in 1984, starting the “rivalry”. History would also tell you that the Lakers have been typically been the better franchise between the two with the overall All-Time Series being 101-52, favoring the Lakers. This is not, however, a fitting representation of the two teams in their current respective states.

As a full disclaimer it is only right to state that making comparisons of which team is better than the other is utterly speculation and cannot fully be assessed due to the many variables that go into an 82-Game NBA Season. However, if we can assume that both teams are at their healthiest, playing a 4-Game Regular Season Series, would one team emerge victorious over the other, or would we find ourselves tied a two games a piece.

Upon review both rosters in their current states, the point can clearly be made that while both teams are stacked respectively, the Clippers depth is more young with loads of potential versus the Lakers’ multitude of veterans with a handful of young players. Aside from the bigger off-season acquisitions in Davis and Cousins, the Lakers have been able to sign exceptional role players such as Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook, and two-time NBA Champion Danny Green. The Lakers seem to have found fitting pieces to surround their stars with, hopefully able to provide for their team while the others are off the floor. For the Clippers, aside from the obvious George and Leonard, have not acquired many big names other than Maurice Harkless in the Jimmy Butler deal that sent him to Miami. That is mostly in part by the fact that the Clippers had no need to fill up a roster quite like how the Lakers did. In terms of depth, however, I give the edge to the Lakers.

Now that we’ve talked a bit about the entire rosters, I suppose we should now focus on the potential starting units of these teams and how their match-ups play out. We can assume that the starting five would look something like Beverly, George, Leonard, Harrell, and Zubac assuming that Lou Will comes off the bench as per usual for the Clippers, while the Lakers have Lebron at point guard, either Bradley, Green, or KCP, Kuzma, Davis, Cousins for the Lakers. From an offensive standpoint the Lakers would seem to have the upper hand, perhaps by only slightly, but more specifically through individual scoring, while the Clippers would be absolutely terrifying on the defensive end. Not to take away the fact that the Lakers have very solid defenders on their team, but the sheer grit feeling that fans get from Beverly and Harrell alone, to not even mention Defensive Player of the Year Candidates Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, is ridiculous. When discussing starting fives, I give the edge to the Clippers.

To say what team would win in a regular season series between the Lakers and Clippers is too hard to tell, especially when these teams come with fresh acquisitions that really change the face of the team. I personally believe that every game between the two clubs will be nothing but a tightly contested game from wire to wire, and to say who comes out on top, we’ll just have to wait and see once the season rolls around.

Jul 17, 2019 No Comments
NBA 2k20 Ratings Revealed: Who’s The Best In The Game?

NBA 2k20 Ratings Revealed: Who’s The Best In The Game?

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by | Jul 16, 2019 | Featured, NBA

In what had become easily the most memorable and tumultuous NBA offseason in recent memory, or maybe ever, the anticipation and impatience for basketball to get back on television has seldom been higher. As per the tradition of every offseason, the hard-working folks at 2k Sports are cooking up their annual iteration of the game of basketball in virtual form.

NBA 2k20 is practically right around the corner and fans of the game, and NBA players alike, cannot wait to take to the sticks to play as their favorite team and players, create their own MyPlayers, control NBA franchises in GM Mode and much more.

Ronnie Singh, known as “Ronnie 2k”, the curator of the NBA 2k brand, recently took to Twitter to inform the 2k community of their widely anticipated rating show, showcasing the official ratings of the 20 best players in our 2020 iteration of virtual basketball on the Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4. Ronnie and his game-developing partner in crime, Chris Manning, let their fans

It has become a yearly tradition of Ronnie’s this time of year to drop some exquisite in-game screenshots and debate-inciting numerical grades on the league’s most prominent players. And accordingly, shock, jubilation, and contempt are felt by each and all fanbases around the NBA as they catch wind of their favorite player either being snubbed from the 90 club, being severely underrated or having an inaccurately-high rating.

Nonetheless, check below to see where your favorite players lie on the best-in-the-game scale. With a new year approaching, some numbers may pop out more than others so do not (or do, they’re your favorite players anyway) be surprised how 2k rated the game’s best hoopers in their new game.

2k20’s 20 Best Ballers

Year after year, LeBron James has been unanimously dubbed the best player in the world, and according to NBA 2k, he is still considered to be the most lethal player in the video game.

News flash: he still is.

Coming into his 17th season, the astoundingly conditioned King of Basketball is the best player to use in the game. James will be a 97 overall, which is a one-point improvement from his 96 overall rating in 2k19. This rating follows his one-year hiatus from the top spot, since 2k19 standard cover athlete and 2018-19 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, heralded the spot a year ago.

Just below LeBron (but not by much) stands his new roommate of sorts in LA’s Staples Center in Kawhi Leonard. The two-way dynamo brought some extra company to California by acquiring Paul George, on the same exact night he committed to the Clippers over the Raptors and LeBron’s Lakers. Yet this year, he is more than ready and willing to challenge LeBron for the throne in LA. Leonard eclipsed his “system player” adage this year by winning a title over the behemothic Golden State Warriors in one of the most impressive individual postseason runs anyone has ever seen and has evolved into being a trusted, all-around threat that can transform a franchise into a contender in a matter of a season.

Leonard also earned a 97 overall rating, which means by year’s end, basketball fans of all sorts will hopefully be treated to not only the Battle of Los Angeles and a pantheonic battle for the ages but the first-ever neutral western conference finals in league history.

Right after those two is the current league’s Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo with a 96 overall rating. The Bucks’ homegrown superstar put up historically gaudy numbers this year, nearly earning both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as he had the second-highest defensive rating in the 2018-19 season (only behind the Heat/Trailblazer’s Hassan Whiteside).

It is debatable conveying the point that Giannis felt the sting of the cover curse, as he has his best season as a professional basketball player. Antetokounmpo took to social media on Sunday to follow one measly request to Bucks fans next year: do not call him “MVP” just yet.

Here is the complete list of the 20 best-rated players in NBA 2k20.

1. LeBron James, 97 overall

2. Kawhi Leonard, 97

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 96

4. Kevin Durant, 96

5. James Harden, 96

6. Stephen Curry, 95

7. Anthony Davis, 94

8. Paul George, 93

9. Damian Lillard, 92

10. Joel Embiid, 91

11. Kyrie Irving, 91

12. Nikola Jokic, 90

13. Russell Westbrook, 90

14. Klay Thompson, 89

15. Karl-Anthony Towns, 89

16. Jimmy Butler, 88

17. Kemba Walker, 88

18. Donovan Mitchell, 88

19. Rudy Gobert, 88

20. Blake Griffin, 88

NBA 2k20’s Best Dynamic Duos

Ronnie 2k and Chris Manning also announced the averaged total overalls of the league’s five-best dynamic duos at the beginning of the rating broadcast, which was live on Twitter. A league that changes more than a fitting room at a clothing store, the NBA was welcomed to two new duos for fans to enjoy watching and playing as in 2k20 when the game gets released to the public in September. So many superstars teamed up this year to create a new sense of leverage in the league, so that the era of big threes and superteams takes a backseat to the re-emergence of impactful all-star duos, seemingly all throughout the league.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie teamed in Brooklyn, the Klutch Sports business conglomerates in LeBron and Anthony Davis plan to sell out the Staples Center this offseason, Russell Westbrook reunited with his former Thunder buddy James Harden in Houston, and those are just to name a few of the superstars teaming up to contend for a title in the most open field to do so in nearly a decade. Check out below who made the top-five list of the best “Dynamic Duos” in NBA 2k20.

NBA 2k20’s Highest Rated Rookies

This year is just like every other year when fans of struggling teams can only hope that a rookie is talented enough to flip the fortune and future of their NBA franchise in their first years as pros. In the draft this year, we are being treated to one of the deepest draft classes at just about every position, and the kids that are coming into the league plan to make the most tectonic of impacts as they take to an NBA court for the first time. In the long wait for 2k20’s release, Ronnie 2k and Chris Manning additionally dropped the ratings for the top 5 best rookies to be in the game.

NBA 2k20 is set to release on all consoles (Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch) on September 6, 2019.

Jul 16, 2019 No Comments
Russell Westbrook Traded To Houston Rockets – Full Trade Details

Russell Westbrook Traded To Houston Rockets – Full Trade Details

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by | Jul 12, 2019 | Featured, NBA

James Harden’s most recent post-game presser came by way of a crushing game 6 loss to the Golden State Warriors in this year’s Western Conference semifinal, and the perennial all-star guard descended some ambiguous quotes to journalists in his exit speech.

“I know exactly what we need to do. We’ll figure it out this summer.”

On July 11, 2019, The Houston Rockets figured it out, and all they had to do was exile their 9-time all-star point guard to the Oklahoma City Thunder to get a familiar face. That is, to James Harden, at least.

Regardless of whatever media-fabricated fallacy written about Chris Paul and James Harden’s failing relationship, speculation was put to rest at around 8 p.m. when 11-year Thunder veteran Russell Westbrook was traded from the very franchise that heralded him to the Houston Rockets, ultimately reuniting him with his former Thunder cohort in Harden. Paul, on the other hand, was promptly discarded to the Thunder as a result of the trade.

Call it creating cap space by shedding a massive 3 year, $159 million contract for an aging-yet-productive 34-year-old, or call it a means of accentuating the dismay Harden had for the 9-time all-star by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey committing to Harden long-term as the franchise cornerpiece, and finally separating the two that showed their “differences of opinion” throughout the season.

The Rockets, on Thursday evening, moved on from what felt like a period of hope for the Rockets and their pursuit of beating rival Golden State with a star-studded backcourt and look to a new duo of two former league MVPs to run Mike D’Antoni’s drive-kick favorable and pick and roll-heavy motion offense.

The Miami Heat had also been in contention for Westbrook’s services, but both the Heat and Thunder could not reach an agreement in the recent days due to Miami’s reluctance to include their younger players in a trade package. The Thunder wanted to do right by Westbrook and accepted his preferred destination of Houston after a tumultuous offseason that involved the trading of all-star and MVP runner up Paul George to the Clippers.

Westbrook stood around, time after time, trade after trade, and stayed loyal to the Thunder. The time has finally come for Westbrook to look for a new location to contend for a title right away. And the 30-year-old guard does not have any longer to stick around for another rebuild.

Westbrook, widely dubbed as the king of triple-doubles, will more than likely replace Paul as the primary ball-handler in the system, potentially relegating Harden back to his natural shooting guard spot. We have yet to see if the old OKC chemistry will still be there and if the two can coexist on the floor at the same time. What is known, however, is that myriad of toxicity that hung over the Rockets heads all year like a dark cloud will finally pass, now that Paul is out of the picture.

Oklahoma City did not walk away from this trade with just Chris Paul along, as there is still a bevy of first-round picks for 2020 and beyond at Thunder GM Sam Presti’s disposal, all of which materialized themselves throughout this free agency period.

As the Brodie takes his talents to Houston to pair up with his good friend in Harden, add this to the list of blockbuster deals in what has felt like the most shocking offseasons in NBA history. For once, it feels as if the league is without a domineering big three of sorts for the first time in quite a while.

The 2019-2020 season is gearing up to be one of the most parity-filled, exciting and unpredictable years in recent memory and with Westbrook heading down the border to H-Town, that parity could either increase, making the West that much more difficult to win, or decrease, if Harden and Westbrook’s styles of play are not dynamic enough to make each other better.

Jul 12, 2019 No Comments