PRICE : $160 RELEASES: FEB 22ND BUY : ADIDAS Today, February 22, 2025, marks a big moment for sneakerheads and basketball fans alike as the Men’s adidas Harden Vol. 9 “Pearlized” officially hits the shelves. This latest addition to James Harden’s signature line with adidas is more than just a sneaker—it’s a statement. Combining cutting-edge performance tech with a sleek, minimalist design, the “Pearlized” colorway is poised to turn heads both on and off the court. Let’s dive into what makes this release so special. A Clean and Classic Look The “Pearlized” Harden Vol. 9 rocks a striking Cloud White, Core Black, and Scream Green color scheme that’s as versatile as it is eye-catching. The upper features a glossy Cloud White shell that gives it that pearly sheen, paired with a breathable black mesh bootie underneath for a snug, sock-like fit. What really pops, though, are the Scream Green accents on the insole and outsole, adding a bold splash of colo...
This colorway is a follow up to the release of the first Dame 6 back in November and will be yet another massive drop for All-Star Weekend. It’s pretty stacked now, but with the Pusha T x Adidas Dame 6 debuting while Damien Lillard sits out All-Star Weekend with a groin injury, it’s messaging will surely resonate with his absence.Damien Lillard averages 29.5 points per game, 7.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game this year. Portland sits at 9th in the Western NBA standings, and they need him to secure their playoff run. He clearly deserves the spot on the All-Star roster as his phenomenal season speaks for itself.
He has never been too shy about sending messages or expressing himself symbolically. Since his 100 million dollar deal with Adidas, his kicks have been a compilation of coded messages in numerical and letter form that shows how much thought he puts into each of them.
In his line of shoes, there are references to his former college, family members, supporters, where he grew up, how he got to where he is today, and even a reference to how he learned to play the game of basketball.
As a boy, he used to shoot into a crate that had been attached to a telephone pole. The code on that telephone pole became the inspiration for the numbers molded on the outsoles of the Adidas Dame 3.
He’s partnering this time around with rapper Pusha T, another Adidas ally. The two have put together a long commercial that promotes and references the shoe, gives a short take of Pusha T’s upcoming music track, and puts a spotlight on the basketball star as he runs around showing his ball control.
Although we didn’t hear any bars from Dame, he’s into the rap scene, often referencing his experiences growing up and his struggles. The focus and storyline were more on his basketball skills and prowess as the camera follows him dribbling around until the end of the video. We can see he’s got superb skills and lives up to the hype of his new shoes.
The “I Am My Own Fan” colorway has an artistic split design, lit up with light blue and orange contrasting accents, against dark and white backgrounds, making the brighter colors pop.
In typical Damien Lillard fashion, we get symbolic letters and numbers. “DL-90” messaging on the lateral side that references Dame’s initials and birth year, while “PSH-T77” appears on the ankle of the medial side.
Referencing the rap and mixtape scene, we get “Side 1” and “Side 2” written on the heel. The midsole displays “I Am My Own Fan” in writing as the toe box finishing the theme with a “sign here” tab.
The Pusha T x Adidas Dame 6 “I Am My Own Fan” will be releasing February 14th during All-Star Weekend.
Written By: Craig Volney