Anthony Edwards Revisits the 3SSB PE on the adidas AE 2

Back during the original run of the adidas AE 1, Anthony Edwards’ smash-hit debut signature sneaker, Ant-Man took the court in a cotton candy tie-dye player-exclusive. Unfortunately for the majority of the population, the pair was exclusively made for Ant and select athletes who attended adidas’ 3SSB youth circuit. Demand was so high that adidas gave in and released the colorway in low-top form for the masses. Of course, with the AE 2 revisiting similar themes to the OG sneaker, like the With Love and Timberwolves variants, adidas coating the new model in the same cotton candy tie-dye wasn’t so far-fetched.

In exclusive images acquired by Sole Retriever, we can see the AE 2 3SSB continues the same psychedelic pastel tie-dye theme found on the original AE 1 PE and the publicly available AE 1 Low. The textile mesh base layer on the midfoot, the collar panels, and the neoprene internals all take on a tie-dye pattern that is unique to each pair, with the louvre support wings on the toe and the faux carbon fiber on the heel covered in light purple. Laces also partake in the trippy tie-dye finish. Embedded inside the sneaker is a full-length Lightstrike and Lightboost cushioning setup, along with a propulsion plate for enhanced energy return.

As mentioned above, the AE 2’s reception has been lackluster to say the least. The original AE 1 release sold out instantly, with the first handful of colorways also having quick sellouts. The AE 2, on the other hand, is sitting on adidas and at retailers across the globe. Some retailers have already offered discounts on the AE 2, and we’re not even a full month into the sneaker’s lifespan. It was going to be tough to follow up on the lightning-in-a-bottle that was Edwards’ first sneaker. Like many others, Ant-Man’s sneakers look to have hit the sophomore slump.

The adidas AE 2 3SSB PE will be released sometime in 2026 through adidas and select retailers online and in-store. For more updates on all things Anthony Edwards x adidas and more in the sneaker world, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com