Rapper, father, brother, son, and All-Star. adidas Basketball formally introduces Dame 6, a design intended to capture every aspect of Damian Lillard’s individuality and inventiveness. The newest iteration of Dame’s iconic collection has a range of vibrant colorways, such as “Ruthless” and “Hecklers,” which depict Lillard’s duality both on and off the court.
“I come out to compete against people, but I don’t say a whole lot. I don’t talk trash, I just go at them every opportunity I get,” said Lillard. “There’s a way to go about it in life and in basketball, being compassionate and ruthless. It’s important to have both; I was raised that way.” When it comes to “Dame Time,” Lillard is renowned for his perseverance.
On the medial midsole of the collection’s first colorway, the word “Ruthless” is boldly painted with pride. Neon pink and green split hues accentuate the breathable black textile mesh upper, which is further detailed with a black suede overlay on the toe box. Inspired by Dame’s capacity to silence opponents with clutch baskets, the “Hecklers” pack has a graphic print with zipped up emojis and is based around four club colours. The phrase “Get Dealt With” is emblazoned on each colorway, and as Lillard exits the court, the term “Hecklers” is printed prominently on the heel tab for everyone to see. Senior Footwear Designer for adidas Basketball Jimi Taylor said, “Early in the design process, the many sides of Dame’s personality emerged during our conversations with Dame – he’s a leader, a family man, a businessman and more, but when he hits the court, a different side comes out.”
The silhouette captures Dame’s complex personality from both front and back of the shoe. The exterior highlights Dame’s emphasis, while the interior reveals the inner workings of the sneaker and honours Dame’s brutal approach to the game. The ultra-lightweight midsole known as LIGHTSTRIKE technology, which offers the ideal combination of lightweight cushioning and on-court responsiveness, is featured for the first time in the Dame series with this model. With improved comfort, support, and reaction throughout, LIGHTSTRIKE is ideal for Lillard’s deadly combination of unrelenting drives to the hoop and abrupt step-back threes.
Dame 6’s anatomical webbed lacing system creates a lock-down sensation while providing lateral support and a precise fit. The translucent outsole, which highlights the innovative traction pattern, dynamic heel edge, and rounded edges for unmatched traction and multidirectional movements, powers the cosy, breathable upper. Officially, Dame 6’s “Ruthless” will debut on November 29. “Hecklers” will follow on January 18. Later on, more hues will be revealed. They are all priced at $110 on adidas.com and at a few select stores. Track the #Dame6 debate on Twitter and Instagram with @adidashoops.
