Kanye West reveals he's 'adding basketball' to Yeezy sneaker line
West's news that the first Yeezy basketball shoe will launch in 2019 was accompanied by a loose silhouette sketch of several other upcoming Yeezy shoe designs.get Yeezy 70% Off,more order with big discount

The Yeezy line has primarily focused on making lifestyle sneakers. The entry into basketball will mark a shift for the brand as it begins to create performance models that have also been fully wear-tested and developed with technology in mind, according to brand sources.

Last summer, West wore an early sample of the first Yeezy basketball shoe during an impromptu pickup game at UCLA, featuring a taller knit collar height and a full-length Boost midsole design similar to his popular Yeezy 350 casual shoe. In April, West also tweeted out an early look at another basketball concept design, which was highlighted by a more dramatic black heel panel and a wavy, layered upper through the toe.

Kanye West tweeted an image in April of a black/silver prototype of the upcoming Yeezy basketball shoe. Kanye West
While West has been working on basketball designs for nearly two years, it wasn't until recently that he signed off on the basketball shoe that will launch in 2019. The price point is expected to be more than $225, according to industry sources.

For now, Adidas plans to launch a variety of new Yeezy silhouettes in 2019 and is locked in on a long-term deal with West that goes far beyond a standard endorsement deal.

The basketball sneaker space is going through a resurgence in competition, with Puma re-entering the marketplace this fall, and brands such as AND1 and New Balance setting their sights on NBA partnerships again.

While Under Armour has enjoyed success with Stephen Curry's signature series, the industry has long been dominated by Nike and its Jordan Brand subsidiary, which has nearly 90 percent of the basketball footwear market over the past decade.

After collaborating with Nike on two massively hyped Air Yeezy signature sneakers in 2009 and 2012, West switched brands and signed with Adidas in the fall of 2013. Most of the $200-and-up Yeezy sneakers resell afterward for two to three times their initial price.