Adidas is introducing a new platform for performance sports product made with additive manufacturing, debuting with a 3D-printed basketball sneaker.
The unnamed Adidas basketball sneaker leads the way for Project R.A.P., short for “Radical Athlete Perception,” and was debuted by Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson during warm-ups for the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It offers a bespoke fit with tailored support, cushioning and stiffness. Its ribbed aesthetic is similar to that of the Climacool, a 3D-printed model available as both a slip-on and laced sneaker.
Previous integration of 3D printing by Adidas has come via midsoles under the 4D banner that launched in 2017.
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Adidas simultaneously announced the shoe and platform with its class of football players entering the 2026 NFL Draft, including projected number-one pick Fernando Mendoza. They recently visited Adidas’ Portland, Ore., headquarters to see the newly renovated Innovation Lab and test out new product including a 3D-printed football cleat yet to be shown to the public and slated for release later in the year.
“This class reflects where Adidas Football is headed and the type of athletes we’re committed to supporting as they enter the next stage of their careers,” Aaron Seabron, Adidas general manager of U.S. Sports and Creation Center Portland, said in a press release. “Our focus is on giving them access to the innovation, product and platform that help them succeed at the highest level. Bringing them to Portland to experience our Innovation Lab and meet the teams behind our performance products is an important step in building those relationships from Day One.”
In addition to Mendoza, Adidas’ 2026 NFL rookie class features Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr., Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, Jacob Rodriguez, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, D’Angelo Ponds, Jonah Coleman and Elijah Sarratt.
No firm release details have been given for the unnamed Adidas basketball sneaker, but the brand says it will launch in the coming months.
