Crazy Light 2 is lightest basketball shoe ever. I already got mine. You can fight for yours May 24th.

When adidas invited me to their official adizero Crazy Light 2 unveiling at the Clippers training facility, I was excited but unsure what to expect. Was this just another shoe release? Adidas promised their new shoe was both lighter and stronger, two things nearly impossible to pull off without some great media spin. 

I arrived hoping I wasn’t going to have to disappoint a lot of adidas marketing whiz kids with a not so excited review. Yet after running full court in the new Crazy Light 2 for nearly 3 hours, I can honestly say, this shoe kicks ass.

The adizero Crazy Light 2 is officially the lightest basketball sneaker in the world weighing only 9.5 ounces. This is nearly 10 percent lighter than the nearest competitor’s basketball shoe. The lighter the shoe the higher the hops, the quicker the lateral movement, and the better the competitive edge. 

What’s even more impressive is the fact that while the Crazy Light 2 got even lighter than its’ predecessor, it’s also stronger.  Traditionally, I’ve found lighter basketball shoes give me less support and carry a higher risk of injury due to poor ankle support. I’ve got the scar tissue in both ankles to prove it. The Crazy Light 2 uses the asymmetrical SPRINTFRAME and the three-layer SPRINTWEB to provide enhanced vertical and horizontal strength. Those are basically two big words adidas created to explain to us that these kicks got crazy support. This is no flimsy shoe. It’s a rugged, durable, incredibly supportive sneaker that just so happens to be ridiculously light.

Adidas VP of Global Basketball, Lawrence Norman, hit the nail on the hammer when he said, “Elite athletes are elite athletes because they’re always fighting for that competitive edge.” Although Norman still owes us at HoopsVibe a one-on-one matchup from all our trash talking at the event, he definitely knows his shoes. 

If you don’t want to believe a white-boy from the suburbs, take a look at what the 2012 McDonald’s All American High School ballers thought of the Crazy Light 2.  The Crazy Light 2 made its’ on the court debut March 28, at the 2012 McDonald’s All American Game where 48 out of 48 All American ballers chose to wear the shoe in the biggest game of their lives. 

The Crazy Light will be available at adidas.com, Foot Locker, Eastbay, and other leading retailers May 24 for $140. They come in multiple colors including black, white, red, and my favorite electricity.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Crazy Light 2 also has micoach speed cell capabilities, helping players measure performance metrics. This chip stores up to seven hours of data and can wirelessly sync with the user’s smartphone share through Facebook and Twitter.  I’m not sure I wan to see my loafing down the court metrics after the first hour of our pickup game at the Clippers training facility, but if you’re a serious baller, this is a serious shoe. Adizero Crazy Light 2 is the real deal.

The video speaks for itself. HoopsVibe takes on CraveOnline for office bragging rights brought to you by adizero and the Crazy LIght 2. The lightest basketball shoe in the NBA couldn't help CraveOnline as HoopsVibe brings the pain.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: CraveOnline gets smacked down by HoopsVibe in Clippers training facility.

adidas Crazy Light II Release Date is upon us. Thursday May 24th.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: I've been playing in mine for a month and love these kicks.

The adizero Crazy Light 2 is officially hitting stores this today, Thursday May 24th. This shoe is also officially the lightest basketball sneaker in the world weighing only 9.5 ounces. It will be selling for $140 a pop at Foot Locker, Eastbay, and adidas.com.

HoopsVibe's got the sneak peak at the "Return of D Rose" Documentary.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Derrick Rose will return better than ever.

April 28th, 2012 is a day Derrick Rose and Bulls fans will never forget. With only 1 minute left in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs against the 76ers and the Bulls leading by 12 points, Rose tore his ACL on a insignificant jumpshot. 

“I remember it. I remember everything,” said Rose. “I remember jumping in the air and coming back down and just that popping sound. I felt it tear when I laid all the way out and it just let go.”

The second his ACL tore, the entire NBA playoffs changed. The Bulls were essentially out of the hunt for a ring and Rose's season was over. 

Now, adidas Basketball is tracking Derrick Rose's return to the NBA with a multi-episode documentary. The documentary will reportedly give fans a behind-the-scenes look at his recovery. Something like this has never been done before, so it will be interesting to see how much access the documentary shows. We've got the trailer below. It looks to be one party documentary, one party humility, and one party inspiration. Definitely keep your eye out for the full series of episodes. 

For more info, updates, and future episodes follow @HoopsVibe.

The Return of DRose Episode 1 "Belief"

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The road back from an ACL tear isn't easy, but D Rose shows us what it takes to be the best.

adidas launches the new D Rose 3 basketball shoe with new logo and apparel collection.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Even injured D Rose has some of the coolest kicks on the court.

Josh Smith releases new aizero Ghost 2s.

Adidas launches the new D Rose 3s on Derrick's 24th Birthday

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: These kicks look good, feel good, and are possibly the dopest kicks to drop all summer. How do I know? I'm wearing mine right now and loving 'em.

October 4th was a big day for Derrick Rose. He turned 24, celebrated the launch of his latest custom kicks (the D Rose 3s), and he continued to share the journey of his rehab through his documentary "The Return of D Rose" episode 4. First things first, check out the official commercial for the D Rose 3 launch below.

Derrick's new shoe hits stores worldwide Oct 4 and are expected to sell faster than an Urban Outfitters t-shirt of Obama dunking over Romney. Derrick's absence from the court hasn't diminished his popularity or the cool factor of his latest kicks. These aren't just another pair of cool basketball shoes. These things are sweet. Derrick even broke down a little bit during the launch stating, "The D Rose 3 signature collection is special to me because I worked side-by-side with adidas on everything from materials to fit to colors to make it the best we've done yet. I love the new logo that calls out the most important things to me: my family, basketball and the city of Chicago."

The D Rose 3s come in an option of colorways, but my personal favorite is the black ones Derrick's holding in the pic above (also in the title pic at the top).  The speckled sole, rear placement of the adidas logo, and glistening leather give it both a fresh and modern blacktop vibe. Be prepared to catch streetballers and celebs wearing these bad boys asap. The complete set of D Rose 3 gear can be seen below. Everything from socks, caps, shorts, shirts, kicks, and sweatshirts are decked out in Rose's custom logo. This is one box of goodies Santa should definitely get you the hookup on. If you can wait that long.

The whole concept behind the D Rose 3s is "The Return." This is a campaign that's been going on for adidas and Rose since August 15th. This documentary series follows Derrick through his rehabilitation and charts his return to dominance in the NBA. The 4th episode is below. Check it out.

As a basketball fan first, I for one am pulling for D Rose and part of "The Return." Rose is one of the humblest and kindest players both on and off the court. In a league of posers, posturing, and over-hyped egos, he is the exception to the rule. He is a true class act that works hard for his success and appreciates everything that comes his way. We look forward to seeing Rose on the blacktop soon and until he is, we'll enjoy his fashion forward kicks.

For more info, updates, and gossip follow @HoopsVibe.

Photo Credit: adizero

Episode 5 entitled "Drive" of the D Rose documentary talks about roots.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Rose talks about family first and earning everything he's ever gotten. 

Adidas drops the new D Rose 3.5 signature shoe.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Damn, Rose is a force like 2Pac. He drops more product when he's coming back from injury than 99% of most players do in their prime. DRose's presence is always felt.

This basketball shoe puts quickness first, but style has got to be a close second.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Crazyquicks not only great on the court, but rolling out with colorways that count.

Lucrative is seriously underselling it based on the figures dribbling in to us.One industry source insisted to ESPN.com this week that Rose's new shoe deal with adidas will easily crack nine figures and could legitimately approach the $250 million range -- as in $25 million annually over a 10-year span -- in what is known in the shoe game as a "lifetime" deal.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Think it's good to be Derrick Rose?

He's the point guard and franchise face for his hometown Chicago Bulls. He's the 2011 NBA MVP, and the youngest player in league history to win the award. He has avoided the trappings of fame and maintained a clean image.

And for this the Bulls recently signed him to a long-term extension for $95 million. But that's a drop in the bucket compared to the contract Rose will reportedly receive from Adidas.

The European shoe maker is set to sign Rose to contract worth $250 million. You read correctly. A quarter of a billion dollars.

Yes, it's good to be Derrick Rose.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Goodwin had helped to turn Howard’s gregarious and good-natured way into marketing gold. He constructed an impressive platform of endorsements for Howard, including a believed $6 million-$7 million annual shoe deal with Adidas and major national campaigns with McDonald’s, T-Mobile, Vitamin Water and others. No NBA player is believed to have as many major sponsors.

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