The Superstar is the undisputed all-time adidas classic. The name belongs up the rafters retired like MJ's #23 jersey. So for the Three Stripes to invoke such a legendary name, they must have something really special in mind. And special it was: the Superstar Ultra was a shoe originally designed for high school sensation Lebron James. adidas' Sonny Vacarro (now with Rbk) had been the front runner in the prep star's sweepstake for two years. His vision was to come up with the best shoe adidas could build in order to attract Lebron's services during their heavy courtship.

      With so much at stakes, the Superstar Ultra was instilled with the very best technologies and resources available at adidas. It has all the pedigree to become royalty and was only a pen stroke away on the dotted line to be King. However, we all know now Lebron ended up bolting for Nike after a $90 million offer. But the Superstar Ultra should not be an after-thought. This is not just another a3 shoe. This is what would've been…. the heir-to-be that didn't get the chance to officially sit at the throne.

      By now, you've probably been bombarded with the "Impossible Is Nothing" ads from Duncan and KG. But when we got a hold of this early sample of the a3 Superstar Ultra a couple of months back, we had no idea what was in store for us. Without any marketing, hype or publicity, the shoe quietly but surely impressed our reviewers. The results are overwhelming and unanimous: the Superstar Ultra is the best adidas basketball shoe we've ever tested.

     At the time of this writing, this shoe has received little to no publicity. Unlike the Lebron James' Air Zoom Generation, there has been no massive marketing campaign well advance of its launch. There will be no ringing endorsements from adidas until the All-Star Game 2K4, over a month after its release. Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan have been wearing this shoe with little fanfare so far in the NBA season. Therefore, we had some reservations about the Ultra. There is that retail price tag of $120. Wasn't the flagship T-MAC 3 only $100? Just how exactly does adidas expect to sell this shoe at these prices with no marketing?

      That was then. Those doubts quickly unraveled into thin air once we pieced together the answers for this review. If you want a straight quick and dirty answer, then here is my personal conclusion: 15 minutes into my first wear onto the hardwood, I was blown away. This is a pair of shoes unlike any pair of adidas I've worn before. Before I get into the actual performance testing part of this article, here is what some of our other testers are saying:

     WOW! That's it. One word. One word described my 3 weeks with the adidas Superstar Ultra. It's ironic how I got this testing assignment. I was the one that most adamantly opposed voting the T-MAC 2 for 2003 Shoe of the Year. You can say I've been a loyal Nike wearer for over a decade. Anything without a Swoosh or a Jumpman and I'd likely cringe before lacing it up. But this is different. Very different from anything I've worn that adorned the three stripes. These sneaks are mad comfortable from the second I put them on to the moment I take them off. I'm very impressed so far and if this is the direction adidas is heading, then I've just found myself another option for kicks... - MH

      The a3 Superstar Ultra as tested is an early sample version (this colorway should be released to the public in March 2004). Performance and comfort wise - it should be pretty darn close to the actual production run version. The colorway is Navy/Chrome/Grey and I must admit it is an absolutely gorgeous shoe in person. The design is so simple but elegant and carefully crafted. The chrome trims allow the shoes to be highly flashy for this upper-end market segment but the soft synthetic suede allows the Superstar to be subdued and classic. My favorite part about the design elements is that the Ultra didn't forget its roots. The styling is deeply inspired by the Original adidas Superstar and Pro Model models of the ABA era. The new shoe is modern in its technological approach while keeping its core real with its OG lineage. This is a brilliant combination of the Superstar Ultra's promising future and the past that created it.

      The upper construction is smooth and soft to the touch. The triple trademark stripes outline the shoe's mid section with a sheen plastic material to identify its heredity. The lines gracefully flow into the mid-sole of the shoe, where the full-length a3 cushioning system takes over like Mike in the 4th. The chrome provides just enough flare to capture the unsuspecting eye but does nothing to overpower rest of the shoe.

      The full-length a3 cushioning system is where it all starts. Built from the ground up, this implementation of the a3 is highly improved. adidas has essentially figured out how to make their “mechanical cushioning” close to perfection. The system is now lighter and more comfortable while maintaining stability. To the consumer, this means the shoes are now ready to go straight out of the box with no break in period whatsoever. Unlike previous a3 executions, that bulky feeling is now gone. The cushioning management system now feels like an integral part of the shoe that won't remind you that it is there. This greatly enhances comfort and the result is a luxurious reassurance that impact absorption has been taken care of so you can go play your game to the fullest. Although the a3 extends from the forefoot to the heel, an AdiPrene+ unit has been injected into the forefoot to provide more responsiveness & feedback for more performance-oriented players. Overall, the system works hand in hand to provide not only the best cushioning we've seen from adidas, but on par with just about any Shox system we've experienced as well.

      Of course, with the full-length A3, the Superstar is targeted directly at the Shox VC lineup. This should help to explain the $120 tag as the Ultra marks adidas' entry into the Ultra-Luxury & Performance class. At $30 cheaper than the VC 3, the Superstar is actually aggressive priced to compete on “value” while providing nearly the same performance, cushioning and comfort. Check out our Shox VC3 vs Superstar article for more comparison details. In terms of luxurious accommodations, the Ultra doesn't disappoint one bit. The heel area is backed by full-grain garment leather upper while the entire interior is filled with velour lining. The velvet-soft material used is much like those found on the Air Jordan 18.5 interior. The result is a plush & lush interior that offers an extravagant amount of deep comfort that we've come to expect from shoes in this class.

      Another segment that we found the shoes to be simply good rather than excellent is the traction. Spin the shoes around and you'll notice a very mediocre looking sole. This is certainly a surprise for a shoe that has otherwise put a lot of effort in every design element. There are flexible grooves and a nice see through A3 plastic beam support in the middle. But there's also really nothing here that suggest why this is the most expensive three stripe basketball shoe on earth. The amazing grip that we've come to expect for a shoe of this caliber simply didn't overwhelm us. Now, it's far to say it held its own, but this is a performance machine that should've been exceeding expectations rather than matching them. Perhaps the grip has been greatly improved in production versions of the Ultra.

      One would wonder just what would've happened had Lebron chose adidas instead of Nike. Sonny probably wouldn't have left. The Air Zoom Generation probably would've been just another shoe and probably without the Hummer inspirations. But now that we've had a chance to test both shoes, it would be unfair to make this comparison. After all, they are entirely different sneaks targeting different ends of the market segment. The AZG is a guard oriented shoe that is light and low to the ground. The Superstar is an all around shoe that put its focus around its superb cushioning system. The AZG is more mass produced and targeted towards the masses. The Ultra on the other hand, is an ultra performance luxury shoe that's targeted at the higher end of the intended audience (with its eyes set on the Shox VC 3). Perhaps it's appropriate that KG and Duncan are now the sole endorser of the a3 Superstar and not Lebron. The shoe fittingly has the lightness, quickness and a potent cushioning system for their dominating games. In a nutshell, A3 Superstar Ultra is a perfect match for these two players because it's a shoe designed for threes and fours but allow them to perform like ones and twos.

      To sum it up, we highly recommend this shoe to players who are looking for an all around game shoe. These shoes ran big in our versions and it's possible you may want to go half a size down. To be sure, check out your local Finishline store to get a true size fitting. We just can't imagine you go home disappointed in a pair of these shoes. They are the best adidas basketball shoes we've ever tested.

a3 Superstar Ultra

OVERALL RATING: 8.1 / 10 Comfort: 9 Performance: 8.5 Cushioning: 9 Safety: 6.5 Weight: 7 Durability: 7.9 Style: 8.2

HIGHS: The full-length a3 energy management system is amazing - provides the ultimate cushioning but without the mechanical feel. Velvet interior screams luxury and the styling/design is outstanding. These shoes should appeal to the masses while providing the best luxury and performance adidas has to offer. LOWS: The price tag is the first obstacle that comes to mind. Can adidas sell kicks at the $120 range? That remains to be seen. Ankle support is an area that needs to be improved on. The cut is too low for a true big man and the lack of anti-inversion technology is disappointing. VERDICT: The adidas a3 Superstar Ultra is something truly special and definitely a winner. Nike-heads needs to give this shoe a try. Serious ballers now have an alternative to the Shox VC III at $30 cheaper. This maybe its first year in this class, but don't be surprised if the Superstar Ultra out sell the VC III by the end of the year.