It looks like Jerry Lorenzo’s latest Adidas Fear of God Athletics sneaker will be released in a collaboration with retired NBA great Derrick Rose.
Lorenzo shared on Instagram Friday images of an unreleased Derrick Rose x Adidas Fear of God Athletics 2 High Top Basketball sneaker in sample form. The work-in-progress design resembled the already released version of the model with the same sculpted and suede upper with precision-cut stripes, however Rose’s version included contrasting colors and the player’s signature logo on the rear heel piece.
The medial side of the shoe’s ankle strap is colored in red and Lorenzo said in his story that the samples featured “ankle brace swag built in,” although it appears to be more of an aesthetic update than an actual change in functionality.
The designer teased that more changes would be made before the sneaker hits retail. “Stay tuned to see where we land,” Lorenzo wrote.
Perhaps citing his inspiration for the design, Lorenzo also shared an image of Rose playing with an ankle brace during a March 2010 game while wearing the Adidas TS Supernatural Creator sneakers.
Later in ’10, the longtime Adidas athlete received his first signature shoe, the Adizero Rose 1. Injuries would plague the star for much of his career, yet he persisted and played for 16 years with six different teams. Rose announced his retirement in September.
Rose was previously tied to former Adidas partner Kanye West, who planned a Yeezy Rose collection featuring a ribbed slip-on design similar to the Foam Runner. The collection never materialized at retail, but Rose was spotted wearing the shoes on social media and during NBA tunnel arrivals.
The Adidas Fear of God Athletics 2 Basketball, which is touted as Lorenzo’s first performance basketball sneaker, was released on Dec. 6 in both low-top ($180) and high-top ($200) variations. The shoe has since sold out in most sizes and a follow-up launch has yet to be announced.
