German-based company Adidas produced track shoes for decades before breaking into basketball sneakers and producing a signature shoe for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Since then, the brand has been a major factor, regularly battling Nike for supremacy.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Adidas Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a transcendent player, compiling a record of 212-8 through high school and college. He was nearly as good in the pros and Adidas made him the company’s first signature athlete releasing the Adidas Abdul-Jabbar in 1977.
Patrick Ewing – Adidas Attitude Hi
Coming out of Georgetown, Patrick Ewing was considered to be an absolute, can’t miss prospect. Even better, he ended up in the world’s biggest media market in New York. Adidas would win the bidding war for his services, but only produce one shoe for him, the Attitude Hi.
Dikembe Mutombo – Adidas Mutombo
Adidas may not have been to hold on to Patrick Ewing, but they did manage top sign his protege at Georgetown in Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo was a different kind of star to have a shoe deal as his talents laid more on the defensive side than the offensive.
Antoine Walker – Adidas Real Deal
Celtics star Antoine Walker was at his peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s making the All-Star team in 1998, 2002 and 2003. The power forward signed with Adidas in 1998 and the company released two incanations of the Real Deal sneaker.
Tracy McGrady – Adidas T-Mac
Adidas signed Tracy McGrady before he became a star and reaped the benefits as he led the league in scoring twice while repping the brand. The company released eight models of McGrady’s signature shoe, 3rd most in the brand’s history.
Kevin Garnett – Adidas Garnett
Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, had plenty of different shoe deals during his career, starting with Nike before moving to And1. He then signed with Adidas in 2004, having 4 models of his shoes made. He finished his career as a rep for Anta.
Chauncey Billups – Adidas C-Billups
It took Chauncey Billups a while to get going after he was drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics in 1997. He would make five straight All-Star games from 2006-2010 and inked a one-off shoe deal with Adidas in 2007.
Tim Duncan – Adidas Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan didn’t have the flashiest game, he was called the big fundamental for a reason. But the lifetime Spur is widely considered to be one of the 10 or 20 best players ever. After signing with Nike out of college, Duncan moved over to Adidas in 2004.
Gilbert Arenas – Adidas Gil Zero
A second round pick of the Warriors in 2001, Gilbert Arenas broke out after joining the Washington Wizards in 2003, becoming a 25+ point per game scorer. Before he faded out as fast as he became big, Arenas signed a deal with Adidas and saw two signature shoes released.
Dwight Howard – Adidas D. Howard
A freak who was somehow more athletic than the rest of the players in the most athletic league un sports, Dwight Howard made plenty of people look silly early in his careeer. He inked a deal with Adidas in 2010 and saw six signature shoes made.
Candace Parker – Adidas Ace
Candace Parker was famous when she was in high school and nothing changed when she became a star at the University of Tenneseee. Parker was the first overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft. Adidas would sign her to a deal two years later.
John Wall – Adidas J. Wall
Adidas has had its fair share of snakebitten endorsees and John Wall was no exception. A star in one of the league’s best markets in Washington DC, but a series of injuries dimmed his star and Wall was out of the league by the time he was 32.
Kobe Bryant – Adidas KB8
Adidas pulled off one of their biggest coups in company history by signing Kobe Bryant as he came into the league and releasing s series of popular shoes. Bryant would eventually move to Nike following in Michael Jordan’s significant footsteps.
Derrick Rose – Adidas D. Rose
Adidas has had its longest partnership with Derrick Rose and it has been an interesting one. He signed when he was an MVP level player, but the bond continued through a devastating unjury and Rose’s transition into more of a role player.
Trae Young – Adidas Trae Young
Thin as a rail, but an unstoppable scorer, Trae Young was the fifth overall pick in 2018 and an All-Star by 2020. He signed his first deal with Adidas in 2021 and the partnership has been fruitful as the Hawks star made additional All-Star teams in 2022 and 2024.
Donovan Mitchell – Adidas D.O.N. Issue
Adidas has been on an incredible streak in recent years, especially when it comes to players who play their trade in the backcourt. Donovan Mitchell first signed with Adidas in 2019 and has made five sttaight All-Star games since then.
James Harden – Adidas Harden
James Harden, who first signed with Adidas in 2016, is one of the most unique supserstars that the NBA has ever seen. Adidas and Harden have worked together on creating unusual pieces of footwear, the latest of was released in 2024.
Anthony Edwards – Adidas AE
It feels like the number one overall pick in any given year should become a superstar and that’s what Adidas was hoping for when they signed Anthony Edwards. Not only has Edwards become a star, but he also has the kind of personaity that makes him a perfect pitchman.
Damian Lillard – Adidas D. Lillard
Playing in Portland for much of his career, Damian Lillard has been an Adidas brand rep since 2015. The future Hall of Famer is still going strong now in Milwaukee and 2024 saw the latest release of his D. Lillard model shoe.