Before Patrick Ewing had his own eponymous sneaker brand yet after he famously donned the Nike Terminator at Georgetown University, there was a brief period where the Hall of Fame center endorsed adidas.
During that short although impactful tenure, Ewing was largely partial to the 1986-produced Rivalry High.
Originally titled the adidas Ewing Rivalry with his name prominently placed at the tongue, the shoe was one of the first from adidas to be produced in Knicks orange and blue. From ’86 forth, that silhouette became synonymous with Ewing, even though several years later, in 1988, Ewing Athletics would be born.
The 2019 edition of the shoe is obviously different from the original through several key distinctions. Primarily, the shoe is simply referred to as the adidas Rivalry High. And, too, adidas branding appears at the tongue in lieu of Patrick’s.
This retro campaign was initiated late last year when designer Eric Emanuel released a collaborative pair. Now, two original colorways — including the aforementioned ‘Knicks” pair — will drop at adidas Originals retailers very soon.
