Say Hello to the Adidas Intimidation Slip-On, A Lifestyle Take on Basketball Heritage

The Three Stripes' retro cycle for the Adidas Intimidation has stalled following a widely-lauded collaboration with Packer Shoes, but it seems business will resume soon with the launch of the Slip-On version.

Developed in 1999, the silhouette formed part of the German sportswear brand's Feet You Wear roster, which also included Kobe Bryant's KB8 III—now known as the Crazy 3. The sneaker is best known in its taller trim, but a low-top iteration was also designed by Shane Ward near the turn-of-the-century.

In recent memory, the Intimidation's legacy has lived on through the YEEZY 500, a popular sneaker style from the last handful of years. The same AdiPRENE+ cushioning solution appeared on the Three Stripes-backed model, and it reappears on the new Intimidation Slip-On.

As its name suggests, the latest take on the Adidas Basketball relic abandons a traditional lacing system in favor of a sock-like collar that enables slip-on-and-off functionality. The pull-tab at the top-of-the-tongue is reworked, appearing underneath the single-piece tongue to enhance accessibility.

Elsewhere, the laceless model's components indulge in lifestyle-oriented tweaks. Ridge-laden overlays along the profiles exchange their typical plastic builds in favor of fabric material that reduces weight and the rigidity felt across the sides. Reinforcement around the toe is sleeker, helping with the Intimidation Low's inherently bulky design. Construction around the heel follows suit.

Underfoot, the FYW tooling remains true to the original, providing a close-to-the-ground ride that's sure to couple well with the slip-on upper.

Enjoy official photos of the new old school basketball sneaker's two inaugural releases below. "Wonder Beige" and "Black" pairs should release via Adidas.com soon, followed by other color schemes.

For more sneaker news, check out the latest ASICS SportStyle offerings.