Interview // Lillard Kicks x miadidas "Home" Winner Scott Boldt

For Portland native and Trail Blazers fan Scott Boldt, designing a custom colorway for Blazers R.O.Y. lock Damian Lillard to wear in a game was a dream come true.

words & interview // Nick DePaula

We've all dreamed of being shoe designers for the league's biggest stars, and for most of us, the closest we'll ever get is taking a stab at doing up our own colorway of a flagship sneaker on custom sites like miadidas.com. 

Luckily sneakerheads were able to get one step closer this past February, when Portland Trail Blazers starting guard Damian Lillard offered up a chance for his fans to design both a home and away colorway for him to wear in an NBA game as part of his "Lillard Kicks" contest.

Dame, the definite lock for this year's Rookie of the Year award, hand-picked both winning designs after personally sorting through thousands of entries, and wore them each down the stretch of his first season in the league. The "home" winner, seen above, was designed by Portland native and huge Trail Blazer fan Scott Boldt. 

Check out our interview with Scott Boldt for more on his white base and red speckled Rose 3.5 winning design below, and you can still test your skills and customize a pair of the Rose 3.5 over at miadidas.com.


Nick DePaula: Before we get into the shoe you designed for Dame, what are some of your favorite current and past adidas Basketball models?

Scott Boldt: I love the old T-Macs, those are classic shoes and I'm glad to see adidas releasing them again. I also like all of the Rose signatures. I own a pair of the original Crazy Lights, which are amazing. The brand new CrazyQuicks are pretty cool as well.

NDP: How'd you first hear about the "Lillard Kicks" contest?

SB: I follow Dame on Twitter, so I saw his initial post concerning the contest.


NDP: What were your first thoughts when you started to think about designing a miadidas version of the Rose 3.5 for Damian?

SB: I wanted to make a design that was uniquely Damian's, and didn't look anything like what adidas had already done for Rose. It was tough at first because the Bulls and the Blazers wear the same colors, but I was eventually able to come up with about 12 different designs that I entered into the contest.

NDP: How'd you land on your final colorway and did you have a particular theme or inspiration in mind? 

SB: I had about 12 designs that I sent in, so it was up to Dame and his agency to pick the finalists. I had three designs as finalists and ultimately Dame picked the one you all saw on the court. I am very happy with the design Dame chose. As for a theme or inspiration, I had been designing ones that were pretty busy, with many different colors, so I decided to create one that was pretty simple and classy.


NDP: What was your reaction when you were announced as one of the contest winners?

SB: I was actually asleep when Dame announced the winners on Twitter! I woke up and checked my phone and I had over 75 mentions on twitter of people complimenting the design. I was speechless. I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real.


NDP: Where were you when Damian wore the shoes and what was it like to see your design live in an NBA game?

SB: I was actually in the Rose Garden for the game. I'd like to give a shoutout to my friend Chris G. for the tickets. I was in the nosebleeds, so I didn't get a good look in person, but I DVR'd the game and watched it the next day for a better look. Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved designing shoes and it's always been my dream job to design shoes at Nike or adidas, so it's really a dream come true to see my design live in an NBA game; with my favorite team and player no less!!


NDP: What'd you think of Damian's rookie season and how excited are you for his potential here in Portland?

SB: His season was excellent this year, far beyond expectations. He and Kyrie Irving are going to be the future of the elite NBA point guards. I am very excited to see what the future holds for Dame. Hopefully multiple All-Star appearances, an MVP or two, and maybe even an NBA Championship.


NDP: And of course, have you worn your pair yet?

SB: I have only put them on once for a picture. I don't plan on wearing them at all, so they stay in pristine condition!