Patrick Johnson 
Damian Lillard is paying homage to the people that helped him out in his earliest years as a basketball player with his third signature model with adidas, the adidas D Lillard 3, slated to release tomorrow in a flashy all-red colorway known as “Roots” inspired by his AAU days with the Oakland Rebels.
The red colorway tells the story of Dame’s coach Raymond Young who had players hold bricks in each hand when practicing their defensive stance to increase strength and discipline. A number of other easter eggs can be found throughout the pair referencing Lillard’s history from the initials of his two grandmothers, the coordinates of Oakland’s Brookfield neighborhood, and numerous letter O’s in honor of his hometown.
The adidas D Lillard 3 features a customizable lacing system with numerous eyelets on the side panel offering the unique ability to lace up the pair however best suits your ever-evolving game. The model has the updated Techfit bootie to thank for that personalized feature while a fused mesh upper increases durability and ventilation while shedding weight. The new traction pattern was inspired by Dame’s earliest years shooting hoops with a milk crate as the geometric simplicity allows for quick cuts to the basket. Last year’s model even championed Boost cushioning on occasion, and while there’s no update regarding that asset just yet, the standard D Lillard 3 will come equipped with Bounce cushioning for a natural court feel.
“With this being my third shoe, it’s all about appreciation for the people that went out of their way so I’d be able to hoop growing up,” Lillard said. “There were a lot of things that happened where if I didn’t have a strong support system – it probably would’ve drowned me. But my family helped me rise up, and now I want to inspire and encourage everyone else to do the same thing.”
Check out more detailed shots of Damian Lillard’s third signature model with adidas and grab your pair tomorrow, December 14th from adidas.com for $115 USD followed by the Rip City edition on January 19th.
adidas D Lillard 3 “Roots”
Style Code: BB8337
Release Date: December 14, 2016
Price: $115
adidas D Lillard 3 “Rip City”
Style Code: BB8268
Release Date: January 19, 2017
Price: $115
adidas D Lillard 3 “Chinese New Year”
Style Code: BB8272
Price: $115
