Anthony Edwards received his gold medal Saturday for helping Team USA win the Olympic men’s basketball tournament, and on Sunday Adidas gave him a pair of gold sneakers to match.
The 23-year-old star was gifted a special edition of the Adidas Anthony Edwards 1, formerly known as the Adidas AE 1, during an Adidas event in Paris. Presented in a gold brief case with gold cards featuring his logo and his “Believe That.” tagline, the sneaker features a black knit base and metallic gold TPU wings. For the first time, the Anthony Edwards 1 gets a translucent outsole, while the Adidas logo on the carbon fiber mustache also bears a metallic sheen.
Edwards recently signed a “significant multi-year” extension with Adidas following the success of his signature sneaker debut, which launched in December. The Anthony Edwards 1 has sold out in several of its colorways and saw a low-top iteration added to the lineup in July.
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“Adidas and I are creating history together,” Edwards said in a press release upon announcing his contract extension. “They’ve believed in me from the start and we have a shared vision for the future – which is why this relationship is so special to me. The launch of AE 1 was just the beginning. The world won’t want to miss what’s next. Believe That.”
Throughout the Olympics, Edwards wore his own sneaker in several different red, white and blue colorways — one of which is scheduled to release Wednesday, July 14. Later in the fall season, the Anthony Edwards 1 will also drop in a chrome colorway with a metallic sheen similar to his gold pair.
Averaging 12.8 points per game during the Olympics, good for the fourth highest on the team behind three players more than a decade his elders, Edwards put up a personal tournament high 26 points in Team USA’s opening game against Puerto Rico.
An Adidas campaign released at the start of the tournament saw Edwards calling out opposing international players with their names censored. The concept mirrored that used for the launch of his Anthony Edwards 1, as he called out other NBA players with signature shoes.
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.
