crooked tongues magazine News Features

The adidas Artillery is a stone-cold classic and arguably the best basketball piece to implement Torsion technology. Trust us, we've argued over the matter. Whereas designs like the Bank Shot feel cumbersome when that cutaway came into play, the Artillery is a more refined creation. We recall some aborted resurrections a few years back and it was a serious shoe in its heyday, so when it seemed to make a slightly masked, but visually arresting return in the first wave of Jeremy Scott obyo releases with the addition of a strap, it was swiftly followed by some fine retro highs that were more conventional in appearance and well built. We still prefer 'em in a mid, and we'd clocked some styles on sale abroad at good prices - white/black/yellow and white/blue/orange are winners. The tongue branding is iconic, a weapon against the reign of Flight and Force, and far-from-subtle, the paneling and detailing is impeccable, and the zig-zag toebox stitch was further proof that the design boffins at adidas took the Artillery brief very seriously with a franchise in mind.



At present we're being assailed with All-Star game releases for the impending festivities in Dallas, but as with last year's snake-effect/Scotchlite Forums (which while admittedly scarce on a promo tip only, went undeservedly under-the-radar) these Artillery Mid variations represent well for the Originals division. East and West get red and blue respectively as highlight colours, while a brown leather panel, that, like the barmy reptilian touch from '09 is bound to cause some screwfaces, has a touch of cowboy boot in line with the game's locale. NBA logos, stars and a coastal twist on those tongue details. USA colours are nothing new on an adi basketball piece, and these offer an interesting interpretation. Individually numbered from a run of 250, these are hitting a handful of Consortium accounts in very limited numbers and will be on sale in the Dallas area next weekend. You might just see them on the feet of a few endorsed athletes off-court too.