Although once a staple in the game, adidas Basketball had been forgotten by ball players. By chasing collaborations and trends, the storied sportswear brand had gotten lost in the noise of a category that had become synonymous with hype.

REMEMBER THE WHY is about adidas returning to its roots—the court, where adidas Basketball had its genesis. It's told through the collection, which is a radically simplified body of apparel; and it's told through the story of a hooper going from the height of success with all its distractions, back down to court where it's nothing but you and a hoop. The ultimate serenity, for anyone who loves the game.

Using basketball as the lens, Remember the Why taps into the truth that whatever passion you pursue, when you focus on the reason why you started, you know exactly where to go next. A brand reset that was long overdue.

REMEMBER THE WHY is about adidas returning to its roots—the court, where adidas Basketball had its genesis. It's told through the collection, which is a radically simplified body of apparel and footwear; and it's told through the story of an unknown hooper going from the height of success with all its distractions, back down to court where it's nothing but you, the ball and a hoop. The ultimate serenity, for anyone who loves the game. No hype, no category noise, just pure sport and authentic storytelling.

The sportswear category has become a sea of sameness synonymous with trend chasing, celebrity idolizing and hype that distracts from the game we love. Rather than following the category norm of showcasing the usual star-studded, top 40, glitz and glam you can expect to come out of chasing fame and fortune through basketball, we ran in the opposition to culture. We stripped away the distractions to create something honest and confident—a piece from which people could take what they needed.

Using basketball as the lens, Remember the Why taps into the universal truth that whatever passion you pursue, when you focus on the reason why you started in the first place, you know exactly where to go next. Everyone's WHY is different. Our hope is that people will remember theirs. Alton Ellis’ “Make Me Happy” is a soulful reggae song from the 70s about returning to an undeniable love. It evokes peaceful, warm feelings of remembering why you started in an unexpectedly effortless way. Although a lesser known song, when heard it gives you that familiar feeling and is in direct contrast to the loud, trendy music the category is now synonyms with. It’s a pleasant break from the noise that's impossible to ignore.

Debuted during the opening of the NBA season, REMEMBER THE WHY made waves in the basketball world by unapologetically standing in direct opposition to traditional sports advertising. Without relying on celebrity, flash or borrowed interest, the film connected with ball players in a genuine way, changing their perception of the brand from old and forgotten, to confident and timeless.

Since the film's launch, adidas Basketball has increased their market share in the basketball product business, created a new visual language that authentically tells the stories of their partners and products, in addition to reengaging fans in a more collaborative and inspiring way.

Not only did the film grasp the hearts and respect of basketball purists globally, but it also became the ethos of adidas Basketball, giving the brand a pathway forward. Because when you understand why you started in the first place, you quickly realize that impossible is truly nothing.