Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adidas Originals Celebrate Bruce Lee's 85th Birthday

The life and times of Bruce Lee have been well documented since his untimely passing in 1973. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary former NBA player and activist, is amongst the lucky individuals who developed a close relationship with the martial artist and actor, and he's set on celebrating his late friend's 85th birthday alongside Adidas Originals.

To the uninformed, Abdul-Jabbar met Lee in 1967 during his time as a student enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles. Impressed by his skills in martial arts, the New York City-native approached the San Francisco-born teacher and began to train with him. The admiration was mutual as Lee was in awe of the basketball player's athleticism, believing that with martial arts training, he could truly become unstoppable.

Two years later, Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, where he'd spend a handful of seasons before moving on to the Los Angeles Lakers. Dominant on the hardwood, the 7-foot-2-inch athlete remained in contact with Lee, who eventually invited him to play a part in Game of Death, a film released in 1978.

Bruce Lee passed away on July 20, 1973. He didn't get to finish filming Game of Death, but he shared the silver screen with his student before his death.

Although the film from '78 is often associated with the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, there are takes included in the fight scene with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in which a yellow-and-black Adidas trainer is shown. A piece of trivia known to only the savviest movie buffs, Lee's old friend and the German sportswear juggernaut have taken this detail and developed a proper collaboration with the late icon's estate.

It's only fitting that the project reimagines the former Laker's debut signature model, the Adidas Jabbar Lo. High-quality suede and leather come together across the upper, which favors a vibrant yellow tone. Pitch-dark contrast appears at the profiles, tongue, and Achilles' heel panel, referencing the iconic jumpsuit Lee wore in Game of Death. Shimmering "Gold Metallic" elements appear on the spine, depicting the martial artist in a mid-air pose. Nearby, a Bruce Lee signature is stitched onto the lateral heel.

As a proper collaboration with the Hong-Kong-American's estate, the Adidas Originals offering includes stills from the Game of Death film. Insoles feature black-and-white images of Abdul-Jabbar and his teacher from over 50 years ago. The commemorative Jabbar Lo also arrives packaged in a special shoe box. The packaging boasts the same golden logos found on the sneaker, as well as a picture of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bruce Lee embracing hands. Tissue paper forgoes its typical look to showcase both men with their arms in a T pose, displaying the differences in their physique and wingspan.

Enjoy official photos of the limited edition Jabbar sneaker dedicated to Bruce Lee. Firm Adidas.com release details have yet to be disclosed by either party involved, but it's likely a launch will take place by Thursday, Nov. 27, on what would've been the late figure's 85th birthday.

For more sneaker news, check out the expansive world of Nike Basketball. To stay on topic, read Bruce Lee & Me by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Substack.