Damian Lillard’s Purple Adidas Dame 9 Sneaker From the Playoffs Will Release in September
Damian Lillard’s ninth signature sneaker is set to touch down before the start of the upcoming NBA season.
The long-awaited Adidas Dame 9 will release in September in the “Purple Burst” colorway Lillard debuted during the playoffs. Purple extends from the majority of the upper to the sole unit, broken up by an orange gradient on the midsole’s heel. A black knit makes up the shoe’s upper third and hosts an internal bootie similar to that of the Harden Vol. 8. Branding consists of feather-shaped striping in what looks to be patent leather, as well as a small Adidas logo on the lateral toe and Lillard’s own mark in orange on the tongue.
Tech specs are still to come with an official announcement, but the Dame 9 bears an obvious transformation from the Dame 8, which launched at the end of 2021 and was followed up a year ago with with a retooled Dame 8 ExtPly. The Dame 9 also shares the same design language as Adidas’ hit Anthony Edwards 1, formerly known as the AE 1, and Harden Vol. 8, as all three feature a textile base beneath dynamic sidewall paneling and color schemes emphasizing just two colors.
The rollout for the Dame 9 has been long, even setting aside the multi-year wait after the Dame 8’s launch. Adidas officially unveiled the sneaker during the NBA All-Star weekend in February, but Lillard didn’t actually wear the shoe on the court until the playoffs began in April.
After spending the first 11 years of his career playing for the Trailblazers in Portland, where Adidas’ U.S. operations are headquartered, Lillard was traded last summer to the Milwaukee Bucks. Adidas welcomed him back to the city this spring by making him the first athlete with a location on its campus named after him.
The Adidas Dame 9 “Purple Burst” will release September 6 through Adidas’ website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $120.
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.
