Did adidas Fumble the Bag with Anthony Edwards’s AE 2?

The adidas AE 2 has been one of the most highly anticipated sneaker releases in recent memory. Following the meteoric success of Anthony Edwards’s debut signature shoe, the AE 1, expectations for its sequel were sky-high. The AE 1 was a game-changer for adidas Basketball, earning widespread praise and topping multiple sneaker-of-the-year lists – including ours. It wasn’t just a hit, it was a circuit-breaker. It helped anoint Edwards as a certified superstar and signalled a bold new direction for adidas Basketball, which in recent years has long struggled to compete with the likes of Nike and Jordan Brand in the signature shoe space.

From the jump, the AE 1 had everything going for it: a provocative marketing campaign, a design that looked straight out of a sci-fi concept sketch and most importantly, the unshakable swagger of Anthony Edwards himself. The bold, sculpted aesthetics and performance-ready build made it an instant fan favourite. But following up such a strong debut is always a challenge (CC: Air Jordan 2), and early glimpses of the AE 2 suggest that adidas may have fumbled the bag.

Revealed in a cropped preview during adidas’ quarterly earnings call, the AE 2 has yet to be officially unveiled. However, one thing is certain: it appears to have suffered some kind of egregious wound, with a TPU overlay illusion on the uppers. It carries over the same peach flavour seen on the ‘With Love’ AE 1, which dropped in December 2023. With sneaker culture demanding constant reinvention, can the AE 2 live up to the hype? Right now, the jury’s still out.

For more on Team Trefoil, check out their 2024 financial report, which covered everything from growth and job cuts to the final Yeezy sneaker sales under adidas.