The Pro Model precedes the Superstar by almost ten years, as the one of the very first shoes to be invented specifically for athletics in the late 1950s and early 1960s. When the Superstar came out in 1969, the Pro Model became included in the Superstar brand of styles, defined by unique design elements such as all-leather uppers, non-marking rubber soles, and of course the famous rubber “shelltoe,” or protective rubber toepiece. The Superstar Pro Model was the first basketball training shoe to incorporate ankle padding into its unique design for better ankle support.

The styles and colouring of the original Pro Model followed the standards of the times. In the 70s, when the Superstar Pro Model was sported mainly by professional basketball players, white, black, tan and gold were most popular. The Pro Model, like all of Adidas’ shoes, is two-toned, with the three iconic stripes in one colour and the body of the shoe in the other. The vintage white with black stripes remained the most popular, however. Anyone who watched basketball in the 70s remembers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the most notable proponents of the Superstar Pro Model, jumping to make his unparalleled “skyhook” shot, framed by the outstretched arm and the three black Adidas stripes on his white shoes.

In the 80s and 90s, when the Superstar took to the streets, colours became more widespread and diverse. The shoes maintained the same general design elements like the shelltoe and the chunky look, as well as the two-toned three stripes on a solid field. The Pro Model II was released in every colour you could imagine, from green to purple to blue to red, and custom designs were crafted for famous artists and actors. It wasn’t so much about whether you wore Superstar Pro Models; it was about how cool they looked.

This cultural phenomenon continues today with many different lines of Pro Models, designed with the best modern shoe technology. The Pro Model S Pro offers added arch protection and lightweight cushioning, comfort and durability; the 2G7 is designed as a street performance shoe to showcase your game; the Pro Model TS is a casual shoe designed for maximum comfort, mimicking the Pro Model style; the 08 offers Clima Cool comfort and contours to your foot like a custom mold.