It’s Not the Shoes: A History of Hoopers Injured in Celebrated Sneakers

Derrick Rose – adidas D Rose 2.5 & 4

photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images via Zimbio

In the past few years, Derrick Rose has been the catalyst for critics tying sneakers to injury. Despite achieving his numerous accolades, namely the youngest MVP in NBA history, in adidas sneakers, back to back injuries suffered in the adidas D Rose 2.5 and D Rose 4 had people equating adidas with injuries. This anti-adidas sentiment began to increase when Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome injury in a Three Stripes. Conversely, it didn’t quite carry over to the other direction when Rajon Rondo or Paul George were hurt wearing Nike.

Derrick Rose would return from both injuries wearing his adidas signature line, most recently lacing up the adidas D Rose 5 during his FIBA run with Team USA. Though skeptics still exist, it should be noted that while Rose was off the court his adidas D Rose line was worn with some regularity by Damian Lillard. Lillard laced up adidas D Rose models over the course of his first two seasons which saw Rookie of the Year honors only to be followed with his first All-Star nod.