Houston Rockets baller James Harden‘s signature sneakers for Adidas have been revealed.
The “Pioneer” iteration of the Harden Vol. 1 will launch on Dec. 3 for $140 on Adidas.com, with additional colorways dropping throughout the season, along with an apparel collection. The first four colorways to drop are the “Home,” “Cargo,” “Gila Monster” and “Pioneer.”
The debut silhouette celebrates Harden’s championship game as a budding high school athlete in 2007 who scored 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and recorded two steals on the way to winning his second-straight California state title.
The design incorporates a black knit upper, white leather toe shroud and red accents. The championship date, “March 24, 2007,” is emblazoned on the left sockliner with Harden’s game stats on the right sockliner. The sneakers utilize BOOST cushioning for energy return, and the premium toe-shroud design was developed to protect him from defenders stepping on his feet. The asymmetrical lacing eliminates pressure on the top of the foot.
“This was my first time creating a shoe from the ground up. With Adidas, we wanted to stand for something different, be true to who we are and that’s how we separate ourselves,” Harden said in a statement released today. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and all the work we put in together is what makes this genuine. We’re open to each other’s opinions and we weren’t going to just put shoes on the shelves and say ‘This is James Harden.’ It’s built for how I play, and you’ll see my style, different moods, the little details and stories that represent who I am.”
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Harden added, “People always ask me, ‘How are you different?’ It’s hard to explain how you’re different, but the shoe explains it for me.”
In August, purported leaked prototypes of the sneaker were roasted on Twitter.
The basketball star first presented his style concepts for Adidas, on and off the court, through a virtual-reality presentation at the sportswear brand’s interactive hub in Las Vegas in July. Harden has been developing the product since last fall.
Click through the gallery below to see more detail photos of Harden’s signature Adidas sneakers.
