Adidas Dame

Damian Lillard signed with Adidas for his signature Dame line in his third season, a logical choice considering he’d worn Adidas shoes like the Crazyquick and D Rose 3 and 4 in his first two NBA seasons. By this point, Lillard’s sneakers might be more famous than he is, with the 2017 Adidas Dame 4 tying for most popular shoe among NBA players during its inaugural 2017-18 season. The Dame 8, released in December 2021, uses mesh paneling with synthetic overlays on the upper and a similar silhouette to previous shoes in the line, though with a dual-density Bounce Pro midsole in place of the Lightstrike foam used in the Dame 7.

The Dame 1 dropped in early 2015. It uses a low-cut design for mobility to match Lillard’s play style, with a Sprintframe construction, springy Adiprene+ cushioning, TechFit support, and perforated side panels and toe box to increase the breathability. A new full-length cushion was added with the Dame 2, adapted from the brand’s running shoes and re-tooled for basketball, with a modified herringbone traction based on Lillard’s chest tattoo. One unique recurring feature of Adidas Dame sneakers are their colorways paying tribute to black history and pop culture, like the Dame 4 “Tribal Print” and “BHM” or the Dame 5 “Black Panther” released as part of Adidas’ Heroes Among Us collection.

Adidas returned to the Dame 8 in 2023 with the Dame 8 EXTPLY, short for “Extended Play” and inspired by Lillard’s music, which released on September 1, 2023 with a molded midfoot strap, a two-layer heel counter, a top-loaded Y-shaped propulsion plate and a Bounce Pro midsole. The Dame 9 followed in 2024 after its original design was scrapped and reworked, launching with a BAPE collection in late August and a mainline “Playoffs” colorway in September. It switched to a full-length Lightstrike midsole and a synthetic leather upper at $120. In December 2024, Lillard signed a lifetime contract with Adidas. His tenth signature shoe, the Dame X, released on July 3, 2025 with a Lightstrike midsole, a stretch-woven upper and a generative rubber outsole. At $90, it was the first sub-$100 hoops shoe with Lightstrike cushioning.