Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Fear of God Athletics, a sportswear line between Jerry Lorenzo’s FOG brand and adidas, is releasing its “first true performance sneaker,” dubbed the Fear of God Athletics II Basketball.

To be clear, this is not the first sneaker created by this collaborative line. There have been premium suede running-inspired shoes and rugged hiking sneakers before now, however, this basketball model is the first shoe actually made for athletes.

And it’s already starting to be used by said athletes.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

On November 10, Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead wore the sneakers in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, his opponent, the LA Lakers point guard Gabe Vincent, was also in the new FOG Athletics shoe (and has been for every game since playing the Sacramento Kings on October 26).

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Seeing the II Basketball sneaker used in the NBA should quieten any doubters on the shoe’s performance, however, you can’t blame anyone for wondering whether or not it will really perform: this doesn’t look anything like a typical basketball sneaker.

In true Fear of God fashion, the sneaker is minimally designed. Dressed in monochrome color schemes, it has a thick, sculpted sole unit that spills out onto its stripped-back upper where even the lace loops are largely obscured for a simpler look.

This shoe is too clean, refined, and minimal to fit the usual mold of a high-performance shoe.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Making a performance sneaker to Jerry Lorenzo’s aesthetic standards was not an easy task. “Ultimately, creating a product that delivers on-court Basketball performance requirements along with the luxury sensibilities of Fear of God Athletics was nothing short of a Miracle,” says Shane Ward, Senior Design Director at Fear of God Athletics, in an Instagram post about the sneaker.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

It’s almost a year to the date since the Fear of God Athletics' debut collection arrived (mind you, Lorenzo did have us waiting almost three years for it) and the sporty sub-line clearly sees basketball as a large part of its future. 

Not only is Fear of God Athletics’ first performance sneaker (releasing sometime in December 2024) a basketball shoe, but it has also recently launched its own basketball team which plays in the Overtime Elite league. 

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Watch out Nike Jordan, Fear of God and adidas are plotting a big move into basketball.

We Recommend
  • adidas' Scaly Superstars Are Ready for the Year of the Snake
    • Sneakers
  • The Best Basketball Shoes of the 2024-25 Season
    • Sneakers
  • adidas and Fear of God's Latest 'Athletics' Line Is Luxe and Loungey
    • Style
  • Mules! Yep, Just More Mules
    • Style
  • The Best Sneakers of 2024... So Far
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • LAFW: You Just Had to Be There (But If You Weren’t, Read This)
    • Style
  • It's About Time to Take Crocs Seriously as a Sneaker Brand
    • Sneakers
  • Paul Mescal Likes His Knits Like He Likes His Shorts: Teeny-Tiny
    • Style
  • In the Driver's Seat: An Exclusive Look at the 2026 Cadillac VISTIQ
    • Lifestyle
    • sponsored
  • Saucony’s Chunked-up Trail Sneaker Graduated From the School of HOKA
    • Sneakers
  • This Bauhaus Coffee-Making Set Is So Hi-Tech, The Kettle Has Wi-Fi
    • Art & Design