Adidas and ESPN have joined forces again — this time to celebrate ESPN’s upcoming 45th anniversary.
Adidas and the 24-hour sports network have reimagined the athletic giant’s Top Ten 2000 in a special new tribute colorway. The retro basketball shoe, originally launched in 1996, features a celebratory sapphire blue upper with red elastic straps inspired by ESPN’s “breaking news” ticker tape and gold co-branding embroidered on the tongue for a shimmery touch.
Wavy white paneling and baby blue transparent soles with ridges that merge into the curvy white midsole complete the look.
“This collaboration aims to inspire a new generation of basketball fans,” said Seth Ader, VP of brand marketing at ESPN, via statement. “This shoe commemorates a golden era in basketball, and pays homage to the synergy between Adidas and ESPN, two iconic brands that continue to shape the worlds of sports and culture.”
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John Wall and Iman Shumpert are just two basketball players known to have hit the court in the Top Ten 2000. Kobe Bryant also wore the shoe when he repped Adidas during the early days of his NBA career as a Lakers rookie.
In 2021, ESPN and Adidas collaborated on the Top Ten High ‘SportsCenter.” The nostalgic high-top shoe boasted the color palette of the former SportsCenter studio in Bristol, Conn. The upper was crafted in cream-colored leather with a debossed reptilian texture and featured contrasting hits of black, red and orange throughout. The design was finished off with metallic gold logo charms that adorned the laces and a translucent sole.
Retailing at $150, the limited-edition shoe will be available to shop on adidas.com on March 15.
