Celebrity Name: James Harden
Brand Name: Adidas
Represented By: Equity Sports
Deal Type: Signature Shoe Drop
Announced: March 30, 2026
Impact: A rare crossover of NBA performance footwear and hip-hop legacy, strengthening Harden’s decade-long Adidas partnership while honoring Nipsey Hussle’s enduring cultural influence
- James Harden and Adidas are partnering with Nipsey Hussle’s streetwear brand, The Marathon Clothing, for a special edition of the Harden Vol. 10, dubbed the “Marathon” colorway.
- The shoe is dressed in a bold royal blue finish, featuring a “Crenshaw” logo on the insole and “The Marathon Continues” branding on the heel, paying direct tribute to Nipsey Hussle’s legacy.
- Harden debuted the sneaker on the court on March 31 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and the shoe officially launches April 12 at $160 on adidas.com and select retailers.
- Harden and Hussle attended the same middle school in South Central L.A. and remained close friends, making this collaboration deeply personal for the 11-time NBA All-Star.
James Harden and Adidas have unveiled the Harden Vol. 10 “Marathon,” created in partnership with The Marathon Clothing to honor the life and legacy of the late Nipsey Hussle.
The shoe’s colorway is royal blue with white accents, a palette tied directly to Hussle’s visual identity, and features a Crenshaw wordmark on the insole, referencing the South Los Angeles street where Hussle built his flagship store and community infrastructure.
Harden and Hussle attended the same middle school in South Central L.A. and remained close friends throughout their careers, making this release far more than just another colorway.
Harden debuted the sneakers during the Cavaliers vs. Lakers game on March 31, 2026, the anniversary of Hussle’s death, adding even more weight to the moment.
Just as Jalen Williams and Kahleah Copper starred in Adidas’ Climacool campaign, Harden’s collaboration underscores Adidas’ continued investment in athlete-driven storytelling with deep cultural roots.
An 11-time NBA All-Star, three-time scoring champ, and 2017–18 MVP, Harden (now playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers) has kept the Cavaliers at fourth in the Eastern Conference since joining the squad at the trade deadline.
The Harden Vol. 10 “Marathon” launches officially on April 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET for $160 at adidas.com, the Adidas app, and select retailers.
Much like Bobby Portis Jr.’s community-first partnership with Educators Credit Union, Harden’s drop shows how today’s athletes are increasingly using brand deals to amplify legacies bigger than sports.
Takeaways
This drop hits different. Harden’s Harden Vol. 10 “Marathon” honors a relationship shaped by shared roots and mutual respect, and the partnership with The Marathon Clothing keeps the release grounded in Hussle’s estate and the people who carry his work forward. This isn’t corporate nostalgia, it’s a thoughtful collab with real emotional stakes.
What’s also notable is the timing. Nipsey Hussle founded The Marathon Clothing in 2017 as a cornerstone of his Crenshaw community vision, built on self-sufficiency, ownership, and neighborhood pride.
Seeing that flag on an official Adidas product in 2026 feels both overdue and powerful, proof that cultural legacy, when handled with care, only grows stronger with time.
Does a tribute sneaker like this carry the same cultural weight when released seven years after someone’s passing? With Harden’s Adidas partnership now stretching over a decade, what does it say about the power of loyalty in an era of constant brand-switching among athletes?
