Mamba Nostalgia Unlocked: The adidas Crazy 2 ‘All-Star’

are diving deep into the archives for All-Star Weekend, bringing back a wild throwback from Kobe Bryant’s early sneaker catalogue. Originally released at the turn of the century, the adidas – formerly known as the Kobe 2 – is a much-maligned cult classic. Inspired by the sleek aesthetics of the Audi TT Roadster, the futuristic design featured a moulded, stitchless construction that pushed the boundaries of traditional basketball footwear. However, it ultimately failed to win over who reverted to the during the 2002 NBA Playoffs. The Crazy 2’s polarising design is often cited as a factor in Kobe’s eventual departure from adidas to Nike. More than two decades later, sneakerheads are gaining a fresh appreciation for the avant-garde nature of Kobe’s early adidas signatures – especially as adidas’ current basketball lineup embraces similarly futuristic aesthetics (CC: ).

Arriving just in time for All-Star Weekend, the ‘All-Star’ colourway pays homage to Kobe’s performance in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, where he dropped 31 points in his hometown of Philadelphia. His dominant showing earned him his first of four All-Star Game MVP awards (he later won in 2007, 2009, and 2011).

Dressed in classic Lakers white, purple, and gold, the Crazy 2 ‘All-Star’ now features a modernised performance engine, incorporating adidas’ Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro cushioning technology. Lightstrike, which first debuted in the adidas basketball shoe in 2019, has since expanded into running and lifestyle models, ensuring a blend of comfort and responsiveness.

The adidas Crazy 2 ‘All-Star’ is expected to drop during All-Star Weekend. Stay locked to Sneaker Freaker for the latest updates.