Released on 20 July 2024 and part of the AE 1 line. This release has a tpu upper in Silver Pebble/Core Black/Wonder Beige. The AE 1 Low is adidas basketball in its current form: a signature performance shoe rather than a reissue, sold in themed packs rather than in single colourways. The Ascent Pack framing tells you the release is built as a set with a shared story, which is how the brand now sells its on court range. This is the opposite end of the business from the Trefoil marked archive. It sits under the three angled bars introduced in 1997 by creative director Peter Moore, the mark adidas uses for performance product, and it is designed for people who still play.
On court, use it for the guard game it is built for, quick changes of direction and a low centre of gravity, and lace the midfoot firmly since a low collar gives you no help above the ankle. Off court, keep clothing simple: black shorts and a plain tee in warm weather, or straight black trousers and a hoodie so the shoe reads as the only sporting element. Basketball shoes generally fit true to size with a snug midfoot. Wipe the outsole clean before playing indoors, since dust is what kills traction, and brush the upper rather than washing it.
adidas has been in basketball footwear since the Superstar arrived in 1969 with a moulded rubber shell toe designed to protect players' feet under the basket, a shoe reportedly worn by more than 75 percent of NBA players by 1973. The company still backs the sport with signature athletes including James Harden. What makes basketball different from the brand's other categories is that the shoes leave the court: the Superstar was adopted wholesale by hip hop and became a cultural object adidas never designed for, which is the shadow every signature model since has been released into.
A modern basketball build: a supportive upper with structured panels through the midfoot, a low collar that leaves the ankle free, and a cushioned midsole set inside a wide outsole for lateral stability. Low top basketball shoes trade ankle coverage for freedom of movement, so the security comes from how tightly the midfoot is held rather than from height at the collar. Court shoes are also built with a flatter, wider footprint than running shoes, which is what lets you change direction without rolling over the edge.
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