Performance and function are number one priorities for Adidas and Fear of God Athletic’s newest collaboration for the II Basketball. The sleek shape and stylish aesthetic are an added (much appreciated) plus. Crafted with athletic novelty in mind, the II Basketball presents a new iteration of high-performance footwear imbued with the mod codes of today’s prevailing contemporary styles.
Fear of God, the Los Angeles brand founded by Jerry Lorenzo, has cemented itself as a fixture in the scene of streetwear style. Defined by their precise tailoring, excellent fabrics, and polished craftsmanship, the house is paving its own path of understated luxury, embracing the nonchalance in defiance of the stuffy. The II Basketball comes as the brand’s newest endeavor under its Athletic division and stands as the first performance basketball shoe released by Fear of God.
The collaboration is born out of both brands’ dedication to constructing a balanced mix of performance and elevated design, manifested in the shoe’s polished silhouette and two-tone color palette. The shoe’s silhouette offers a tailored fit, utilizing a structured inner bootie resting atop a lightstrike midsole crafted from lightweight foam. The TPU shank (a durable material intended to prevent injury) provides the wearer with momentum, while the rubber outsole ensures a strong grip on the court. Here’s where Fear of God’s design expertise ties in. The sneakers actually boast a luxurious suede upper, a nod to the House’s sartorial signatures.
Showcasing the II Basketball release, adidas athlete and fellow Chicago native, Derrick Rose, dons the shoes in a new campaign. Rose, the youngest MVP winner in NBA history, dunks his way through a series of shots captured by renowned portrait photographer Nadav Kander.
The II Basketball will be available in Night Brown on Fearofgod.com, adidas.com, the adidas CONFIRMED app, and select adidas Global and North America retailers. The shoe will also be available at select Foot Locker, Dick’s Sporting Goods and JD Sports.