words_Brandon Richard

If anybody knows me, they know how incredibly impressed I am with how much adidas Basketball has stepped up their game this season. Fittingly, the ascension of the Three-Stripes comes during a year where they’ve launched signature shoes for their two most marketable superstars, Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, for the very first time. Adding on to that excitement, the two leading men for adidas may be running 1-2 in the NBA’s MVP race, so the adi kicks are getting some of the visibility that they rightfully deserve.

I’m a big-time Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard fan, but have had no problem tipping my cap to Derrick Rose for the season he has had. In fact, if voting ended today, I’d have to swing mine in his direction. Not only do I admire Rose’s game, I dig his kicks as well. Prior to the recent release of the adiZero Rose 1.5, I picked up several colorways of the adiZero Rose, but this “Aluminum” pair might be my favorite out of the bunch.

I first saw this shoe when Nick previewed it here back in October. It was the colorway that actually sold me on the model as a whole. Since some of the innovative basketball stuff they did in the ’90s, I felt like adidas had been playing it too safe in recent years. The adiZero Rose is anything but safe, featuring a design that carries the brand’s basketball range to the next level, while still maintaining the adidas heritage – the same kind of innovation we’ve seen them incorporate into soccer boots for years.

This adiZero Rose, decked out in an Aluminum grey colorway with Columbia blue accents, is a really solid addition to any sneaker rotation. I suggest people take advantage of the fairly priced, easily available adidas kicks this year. Today’s sleeper is tomorrow’s classic.

Available: adidas adiZero Rose – Aluminum/Columbia Blue/Lead