Adidas’ 3D basketball shoe
Adidas unveiled a 3D‑printed basketball shoe signaling a production push into additive manufacturing for performance hoops silhouettes — a potential gamechanger for fit and lightweight structure in athleisure and sport. The piece positions Adidas at the front of 3D‑print footwear innovation (sneakernews.com).
Adidas presented the sneaker as the first tangible product from its new "R.A.P." (Radical Athlete Perception) innovation platform and the silhouette was shown on-court during the NCAA tournament, worn by Darryn Peterson. (sneakernews.com)) The prototype’s exterior combines a solid toe with a curved lattice along the sidewalls and a Three Stripes motif that rises from the heel traction, while the brand says the hardware is engineered to deliver a bespoke fit with tailored support, cushioning and stiffness. (sneakernews.com)) Adidas told media the model will arrive "in the coming months" at retail and confirmed a related American football design is expected later in 2026. (sneakernews.com)) This court-ready debut follows adidas’ wider push to scale 3D‑printed lines: the company expanded its 3D‑printed CLIMACOOL LACED to global retail with a broad drop beginning March 3, 2026. (3dprintingindustry.com)) The brand’s prior 3D work — including the 4DFWD lattice midsole program announced in 2021 and earlier Futurecraft collaborations with partners such as Carbon and Materialise — establishes the additive manufacturing processes and supply partnerships underpinning the new basketball model. (news.adidas.com)) Adidas has also filed patents describing a three‑dimensional mesh sole made of interconnected unit cells, nodes and struts (US20240032649A1), language that matches the lattice geometry visible on the new basketball silhouette. (retail-insight-network.com))
