Anthony Edwards is a polarizing NBA superstar. His confidence is unshakable, his urban swagger undeniable, and his game electrifying. If you follow basketball even casually, he's probably on your For You page weekly-whether for a jaw-dropping play or a comment that sparks laughter, confusion, or debate.
In December 2023, Edwards dropped his first signature shoe with Adidas, the AE1, and it was a hit. Fans loved both the performance and the design, and Adidas has kept the momentum going with fresh colorways. But now, Adidas has leaked the upcoming AE2, and while the performance could be elite-it might even be the best basketball shoe out there-I can't say the same for the design.
Adidas gave a first look at the AE2, and House of Heat reposted via X. A closer look at the shoe surfaced with a different colorway than what Adidas initially showed, leaked by Masterchiefin on X. Take a look.
Better images of the upcoming AE2 pic.twitter.com/9LARnHB0Bt
— asterchiefin (@Masterchiefin21) March 8, 2025
Like I said before, these might perform great, but the looks? Terrible. The model feels cheaper than the AE1, lacking detail and refinement. Adidas seems to be branding the AE2 with just two connected lines on the side, and while logos don't make or break a shoe, this one barely has a visible logo at all. Something about these just feels generic-like a decked-out 2K generic or the free shoe everyone gets on NBA 2K's release day.
Here are some fan reactions to the shoe.
The AE2's look disgusting
— thepyrvmids (@thepyrvmids) March 8, 2025
RIP AE Adidas Shoe Line 2024-2025
— Chucky08 (@StreetFyre) March 6, 2025
Pls say sike.
— noah (@freshnoah) March 6, 2025
I loved the AE1s-they're one of my go-to hoop shoes because they feel and look great. I'm a big fan of Ant-Man and an even bigger fan of basketball, so if the AE2s end up being elite performance-wise for 2025/26, I might grab a pair anyway. But based on what I've seen so far, I can't say I'm impressed.
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This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM.