adidas Dame 6, the new Damian Lillard's signature shoes

adidas Basketball officially unveils the Dame 6, the new Damian Lillard signature shoes, designed to embody all facets of Damian Lillard’s creativity and persona. In parallel with his basketball career with Portland Blazers, he is continuing to support his passion for rap. Dame Dolla, a.k.a. Damian Lillard when he's outside the pitch, recording his songs, signed a ten-year contract with adidas in 2014, which has always supported his talent in all its forms. The latest edition of Dame’s signature line includes the “Ruthless” and “Hecklers” versions, which tell the story of Lillard’s dichotomy 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.”

As for the Dame 4 in collaboration with BAPE, the Dame 6 features a the not-so-shy look. The first colorway in the collection features the word “Ruthless” proudly painted in bold script on the medial midsole. The black textile mesh upper is highlighted with split hues of neon pink and green. Drawing inspiration from Dame's ability to quiet the opposition when he knocks down a big shot in the clutch, the "Hecklers” pack is centered around four colors (yellow, orange, blue and black). This is the first model in the Dame series to feature LIGHTSTRIKE technology, the super-light midsole that provides the perfect balance of lightweight cushioning and on-court responsiveness. Jimi Taylor, Senior Footwear Designer for adidas Basketball, explained the project:

“Early in the design process, the many sides of Dame’s personality emerged during our conversations with him: he’s a leader, a family man, a businessman and more, but when he hits the court, a different side comes out. The silhouette embodies Dame’s multi-dimensional person."