Image approved
Forefoot midsole tech
Full-length Bounce foam
Heel midsole tech
Full-length Bounce foam
Outsole tech
ADIWEAR rubber with multi-directional lines
Upper tech
Knit upper (not Primeknit branded)
Cushioning feel
balanced and responsive
Court feel
good
Bounce
limited-moderate
Stability
moderate
Traction
mixed, less forgiving in dust
Fit
runs long, size down half
Analysis
Performance profile
Cushioning Feel
78Very GoodCourt Feel
82Very GoodBounce
50DecentStability
58SolidTraction
29Below AverageFit
78Very GoodContext
Story & provenance
A Foam Bedrock Finally Changes
Derrick Rose debuted the adidas D Rose 9 on April 15, 2018 during the Timberwolves' first-round series with Houston. It was the first Rose model since the Rose 4 to ship without Boost cushioning, with adidas swapping in full-length Bounce instead. The knit upper looked more casual than performance-forward, and the outsole used tightly spaced multi-directional lines that reviewers from WearTesters, BBallEquips, and HoopsGeek found dust-prone and inconsistent. Cushioning, however, was a clear strength, with Bounce providing a balanced, low-profile ride. The shoe was widely criticized for retaining the 140 dollar price point despite the downgrade from Boost. Even so, the D Rose 9 maintained a place in the line's history as the moment adidas pivoted away from Boost-first basketball.