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Damian Lillard has officially joined an exclusive club of NBA elites by releasing his 10th signature sneaker, the adidas Dame X (10), becoming only the 12th player in league history to reach this milestone.
A Decade of Dedication
Reflecting on this achievement, Lillard shared:
“It means a lot. I think it says a lot about what I’ve been able to do, not just in my career, but how I’ve been able to stay connected to people over a long period of time. It just makes me proud of myself… and being able to have the longevity that I’ve had.”
From being a two-star recruit out of high school to a standout at Weber State, Lillard’s journey to NBA stardom and sneaker icon is a testament to his perseverance. He admitted he never envisioned reaching ten signature shoes:
“I just wanted to make it. Even when I did make it, I felt like I would have to possibly go through the G League and wait my turn… I never looked this far ahead and saw ten shoes coming.”
Innovation Meets Affordability
The Dame X continues to prioritize performance and accessibility. It features adidas’ LIGHTSTRIKE cushioning for responsive support and a bottom-loaded Y-shank for torsional stability. Despite these high-performance features, Lillard emphasized the importance of keeping the shoe affordable.
“Having a quality shoe that’s under $100… that’s the number one thing for me as I’ve gotten older and wanting to have impact in the community and making my shoe accessible to people that come from a background like me.”
Personal Touches
The “Dame’s Light” colorway, releasing on July 3, 2025, draws inspiration from Lillard’s children, incorporating their favorite colors into the design. This personal connection reflects the evolution of Lillard’s involvement in the design process.
“For the Dame 1 I was much simpler about it… when we got to the [Dame 6], that’s when we started to step out, and it was a little bit different, and it was evolving as I evolved.”
A Legacy Cemented
With the release of the Dame X, Lillard joins an elite group of NBA players with ten or more signature shoes, a list that includes legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Summing up his journey from Dame 1 to Dame X in one word, Lillard chose “Evolution.”
The adidas Dame X is available now on adidas.com. Fans can look forward to various colorways, including “Dolla Red,” “Zero Metallic,” and “Dame’s Light,” with more releases planned throughout the year.
