The Evolution of the D-Rose Shoe
As we've sat back on our couches and witnessed the evolution of Derrick Rose the basketball player, another evolution has taken place simultaneously. The evolution we're referring to centers around his signature shoe.
Being one of the NBA's most recognizable talents, it's not a surprise Rose has his own line of sneakers. Under the Adidas imprint, his kicks have changed over the years consistently providing basketball fans and sneakerheads with a bold, high-performance-looking shoe.
With the release of the brand new D Rose 5 Boost, now's a great time to take a deeper look at all of the signature kicks he's dropped over the years.
adiZero Rose 1 and 1.5
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Released: October 2010 and February 2011
The first signature shoe Adidas released with Rose's name on it was the adiZero Rose 1.
Like Rose, the design was free-flowing and creative. From the sole on up it was crafted to provide maximum comfort and support.
You'll notice right away the most commanding feature is the open ankle support mechanism. That feature set the shoe apart from some of the other releases at the time.
In a conversation with Eastbay, Rose spoke about what he loved the most about the Rose 1. He touched on how lightweight it was and how the flexibility it provides complemented his game.
After its release, Rose wound up switching over to the 1.5 version of the shoe, which featured even more support for his ankles without compromising Adidas' original design. On Rose's official website, the inspiration for the 1.5 model was brought up:
"The design is inspired by Derrick’s hometown and path from Chicago to the NBA. The shoe is particularly inspired by Chicago architecture’s Structural Expressionist movement, which featured buildings revealing their inner structures or skeletons."
Both models set the tone for what we could expect from Rose's personalized shoes moving forward.
adiZero Rose 2
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Released: October 2011
"The adiZero Rose 2 is built for my speed so you have to be fast if you want to wear this shoe" Rose said via his official website.
This shoe was crafted to replicate what we were accustomed to seeing from Rose on the court. Just a few seasons into his career, Rose had catapulted to the upper echelon of the NBA winning an MVP award in the process. The adiZero Rose 2 was here to culminate that achievement.
What you got with the Rose 2 was a pure basketball shoe. It wasn't really manufactured for casual wear. Honestly, you'd have a hard time pairing a crisp pair of denims with these.
Unlike the previous models, what made the Rose 2 different was it had a tighter design. Everything about the shoe appeared to be compact.
The patch-like design featured around the laces is the Rose 2's calling card. Visually, that was the element needed to separate it from its predecessors.
adiZero Rose 2.5
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Released: February 2012
Going by the eye test, the adiZero Rose 2.5 was created with maximum ankle support in mind. The shoe was modified and equipped with extra padding in that area which was a change from the adiZero Rose 2.
Even with the additional support, like the Rose 2, this was also a lightweight sneaker. There were no elements that bogged it down or made it feel heavy in any way.
Aside from the additional cushion the people over at Adidas added at the top, the style didn't stray away very much from the previous model. Both versions had the patches around the laces and stripes on the heel.
The Rose 2.5 was significant for a handful of performance-based reasons. But one major differentiating element was that this was the first shoe to feature Derrick's logo on it. In the picture above you can clearly see it imprinted on the tongue of the shoe.
D Rose 3
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Released: October 2012
You have to give Adidas a lot of credit. Each shoe was designed to complement Rose's flare on the court, which was unique.
With the launch of the D Rose 3, the brand finally dropped the adiZero part and focused the title around the point guard's nickname. Carrying over the three-stripe tradition from the Rose 2 and 2.5, the D Rose 3 shifted them from the heel down to the sole.
"The D Rose 3 signature collection is special to me because I worked side-by-side with Adidas on everything from materials to fit to colors to make it the best we’ve done yet," Rose mentioned during the launch of the shoe, per DRoseHoops.com.
The textures they used were remarkable—especially the speckled midsole and red stitching. Both of those features were a clean way to pay homage to the Bulls' iconic colors.
It's also important to point out this shoe also included a brand-new silhouette and a brand-new customized Rose logo.
D Rose 3.5
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Released: January 2013
With the D Rose 3.5, Adidas kept some of the features we loved about the previous edition while improving the overall look and feel of the product. They incorporated even more support and added in a vintage air bubble near the ankle to give it some burst.
However, the biggest change has to be the pattern they weaved into the toe of the shoe. Though it's not quite crosshatching, nevertheless, it still looks great.
Despite resembling the D Rose 3, the updated version felt a little more audacious. It was a sneaker constructed with way more aggression than any of the ones that came before it.
D Rose 4
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Released: October 2013
Take everything we just talked about in terms of aggression and triple it. Now you have the basis for the D Rose 4.
Debuting back in October of 2013, the D Rose 4 was a sturdy sneaker. It was also the first shoe he released that looked like it could have been conceived in Beaverton, Oregon—the home of Nike.
A cool feature the D Rose 4 was equipped with was Adidas' Crazyquick outsole traction system—described on DRoseHoops.com as "the company’s latest performance innovation – that gives Derrick maximum control and flexibility for quick moves on the court."
The biggest reason the D Rose 4 was significant is because it was the shoe that hit the reset button and changed what the brand would look like moving forward.
D Rose 4.5
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Released: January 2014
The second chapter in recreating Derrick's signature shoe came when Adidas unleashed the D Rose 4.5 on us in January of 2014.
This particular model stood out in a crowd. Every single detail on it was bellicose and vibrant. Sneakerheads will tell you these kicks were definitely ones you could either rock shooting jumpers in the gym or out there on the streets.
Countless intricacies and expansive patterns made it a beautiful product from the inside all the way out to the lace dubrae. It embodied every quality you could possibly think of when you pictured Rose playing basketball. That's a rare feat Adidas and its team of designers were able to attain.
D Rose 5 Boost
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Released: October 2014
The D Rose 5 Boost is the latest model to come out of Adidas' creativity cabin. That random term "Boost" was tagged onto the end of the shoe because it includes a brand cushioning system, never featured in any of Rose's prior kicks.
"Having the Boost cushioning in my new signature shoe makes it the most favorite of mine that we've ever done," Rose said during the launch event Adidas held over the summer, via SoleCollector.com.
He went on to say, "I've played in them for a couple months, but every time I put them on it feels like a new shoe and it's the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. Now, I can't imagine playing without Boost in my shoes."
If you believe Rose, then this shoe has to be dubbed a "must-own" product. It looks great, feels great and like his other kicks, it leaves plenty of room to wear an ankle brace with it.
Basketball junkies looking for a performance shoe should definitely give the D Rose 5 Boost a try.
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