Washington Wizards star John Wall is making a big statement on his feet for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The basketball star sported a pair of Adidas‘ Black History Month limited-edition sneakers, as spotted by Comcast Sportsnet reporter Chris Miller. Wall, along with other Adidas sponsored athletes, wore the shoes during the Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers game earlier today.
The Adidas collection is sepia-toned and highlights quotes from Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Proceeds from the sales benefit Kareem’s Sky Foundation for at risk youth. It also features four styles (The Crazy 8, the J Wall, the D Rose 5 Boost and the D Lillard) and highlight various eras in basketball, starting in the 1960s. The shoes are available this month.
Adidas’ collection debuted shortly after sneaker competitor Nike’s, which received a big social media play and buzz from sneaker fans. Nike’s collection features six styles with a focus on product ranging from soccer and skateboarding to basketball and football. Rather than highlight a single athlete, Nike’s collection brought on six atheltes and coaches.
Watch on FN
The special collections aren’t new territory for Nike and Adidas, which have previously released Black History Month collections, as both have a philanthropic and sports legacy component. While both releases are very different in terms of inspiration, it’s also a significant nod towards black athlete’s legacy and impact in sports–particularly basketball.
“I was very fortunate to have African-American role models and pioneers I could identify with and learn from as I forged my career in basketball and my personal journey in life,” said Abdul-Jabbar in a release from Adidas. “Every success I’ve had is due to countless hours of hard work physically and mentally, and I’m proud to tell that story and inspire the next generation of role models as we celebrate the accomplishments of African-American leaders next month.”
With such different styles, what collection are you most looking forward to getting your hands on?
