Adidas Prints BB.01, Becomes the World’s First 3D Basketball Shoe

Adidas Basketball has revealed the BB.01, the opening product of Project: Radical Athlete Perception (R.A.P.) and the brand’s first performance basketball shoe built on the platform. Positioned as a new approach to making athletic footwear, Project: R.A.P. relies on additive manufacturing to tailor products to individual athletes and to the specific demands of a given sport.

The BB.01 is constructed using a 3D printed lattice that encloses the foot, a structure Adidas says is designed to deliver a customized, forward-looking feel with every movement. The shoe is set to appear on court for the first time at NBA Summer League, worn by Adidas athlete Mikel Brown Jr. during his opening Summer League appearance.

Adidas frames the launch as both a product debut and a statement of intent. “We b