The First Signature Basketball Sneaker Ever Made Is Making a Comeback

For the first time in a decade, basketball’s first-ever signature sneaker is making its return.

The Adidas Jabbar, which made its debut in 1978 for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and last released in 2014, will release this week in its original “Royal Blue” colorway with both high-and low-top versions. White leather covers the majority of both sneakers, while the striping makes use of blue leather and the toe cap grey suede. The high-top then features a blue leather collar, while the low uses the same treatment for its mustache. A silhouette of Jabbar taking his legendary sky hook shot and his signature appear on the tongue tag in blue for the high-top and gold for the low.

While basketball sneakers had featured names of athletes prior to Abdul-Jabbar, the Adidas Jabbar was the first made specifically for a player. Converse’s Chuck Taylor All-Stars were originally known as “No-Skids” before Taylor, a semi-professional basketball player and Converse salesman, redesigned the sneaker that would then bear his name.

The Puma Clyde predates the Adidas Jabbar as well, but the silhouette is the same as the Pume Crack and was renamed when new colorways were made for Clyde Frazier. Once Frazier’s original deal with Puma expired, the shoe then became known as the Suede.

Abdul-Jabbar, who was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer until LeBron James passed him in 2023, was also the first basketball player to sign with Adidas. High-, mid- and low-top versions of the Adidas Jabbar have all released — with the lows being particularly popular among b-boys (or breakdancers).

In Willy Chavarria’s Paris Fashion Week show in September, the designer also showed an updated version of the Jabbar likely to release in spring 2025.

The Adidas Jabbar Hi and Lo “Royal Blue” will release Friday, October 19, through Adidas’ website and select third-party retailers. Pricing for the high-top is set at $110 and the low-top $100.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.