There are NBA players with signature shoes, and then there are players whose personalities actually translate into the sneakers carrying their names. Anthony Edwards has quickly established himself in the latter category. The Minnesota Timberwolves star and adidas Basketball are back with the AE 3, the third instalment in a signature line that has become almost as recognizable for its attitude as Edwards himself. Launching September 18 in the “Cold Blooded” colourway, the AE 3 doesn’t attempt to tone things down. Instead, adidas has continued building around the speed, power and explosiveness that define Edwards’ game.
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Designed to take over
Performance is understandably where the AE 3 needs to deliver. adidas has equipped the shoe with Dreamstrike EVA, a lightweight foam engineered to provide energy return, while an advanced TPU cage helps keep the foot contained during aggressive changes in direction. A two-way stretch knit upper is designed to balance breathability and durability, while additional reinforcement around the toe provides protection for players putting the shoe through considerably more punishment than a casual trip to the grocery store.
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Visually, the sneaker continues the futuristic aesthetic established by the previous AE models. A prominent chevron connects the sole and upper, giving the AE 3 the kind of instantly identifiable silhouette increasingly important in a crowded signature sneaker market.
More Anthony Edwards
Perhaps the smartest thing adidas has done with Edwards, however, is recognize that the appeal doesn’t stop at basketball. His humour and confidence have helped make him one of the league’s most engaging personalities, and the AE 3 rollout is leaning directly into it. The sneaker arrives alongside MINNATLANTASOTA, an episodic sketch series featuring Edwards alongside other adidas athletes and emerging comedic talent. New episodes are expected throughout the season.
The AE 3 will also be worn by a younger group of adidas Basketball athletes, including Olivia Miles, VJ Edgecombe, Kaleena Smith and Karim Lopez, extending the signature line beyond Edwards himself.
A signature line finding its identity
Three shoes in, the Edwards-adidas partnership is beginning to feel less like another athlete endorsement and more like its own basketball franchise. The performance technology matters. So does the design. But what makes the AE series interesting is that the shoes actually feel connected to the athlete wearing them: confident, energetic and completely uninterested in being subtle. The Anthony Edwards 3 “Cold Blooded” launches September 18 for $130 USD / $170 CAD through adidas and select retailers worldwide.
