Report: Kanye West’s first Adidas basketball shoe would not be approved by NBA

Kanye West is pretty excited about his first Adidas Yeezy basketball shoe, but the sneaker would not be approved by the NBA as presently styled, according to a report.

West shared a sample pair of his Adidas Yeezy basketball shoes on Instagram. The photo was taken mostly in the dark, showcasing a reflective part of the shoe:

Here’s another look at it:

The reflective piece is apparently the reason the shoe would not be approved for wear by players during NBA games.

ESPN’s Nick DePaula reported on Monday that the shoe’s reflective heel panel is problematic because the league would deem it “potentially distracting for both in-arena spectators and television viewers.”

DePaula notes that Carmelo Anthony had a similar issue in the past and had to make a change to his shoe in order to wear it in games.

The league office has not yet received the Yeezy basketball shoe to review for approval. DePaula says they likely would approve if the reflective area were changed.

We’re guessing this development won’t help Kanye’s claim of surpassing Michael Jordan.