British designer Grace Wales Bonner is still making waves with her adidas designs. This time around, Wales Bonner x adidas sees the designer putting her own spin on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first signature basketball shoe, the Jabbar. With a subtle touch, the new Wales Bonner x adidas Jabbar debuts with a plush purple suede upper and gold and white leather stripes, colorways reminiscent of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bonner takes the Jabbar, a silhouette that is oft-overlooked in the light of other, more classic adidas basketball shoes such as the Superstar, and gives it a level of nuance that’ll be seen from a mile away. The stripe design plays with different textures, including croc embossed leather, while the half shell toe differentiates the design from other adidas basketball shoes on the market. The suede finish, too, helps the pair to garner a luxe appeal.

For Bonner, the collaboration is also a way to honor Abdul-Jabbar’s impact on the game beyond the hardwood. On the inside of the shoe, a graphic of the player’s signature sky-hook shot pays homage to his dominant presence on the court. In all, this collaboration is heavy on cultural weight, more so than most other drops. While this may not be Bonner’s most ubiquitous design to date, when compared to her sought after Sambas, the Jabbar takes on a more braver and less timid appearance. For the designer, it’s a sign of what’s to come as she takes on more adidas history.

On the collecting front, this drop is a strong example of adidas’ ethos in recent years of simultaneously commemorating legends of yesteryear while also catapulting itself into the modern, fashion-forward, and high-end realms with collabs and one-of-a-kind limited releases.

The Wales Bonner x adidas Jabbar will release September 8, 2025, through adidas Confirmed and select retailers.

Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Sneaker Release Dates page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram.