George Clooney has never really been a sneaker guy. Pretty much every time we see him, he’s either in Italian-made leather Oxfords or equally luxe suede loafers. So when he steps out in sneakers, it counts as something of a special occasion.
In New York last week, the actor was seen playing a bit of softball with the cast and crew of Good Night, and Good Luck, a stage adaptation of his 2005 film that also marks his Broadway debut. While pitching, Clooney wore a specific pair of Adidas sneakers that, to the uninitiated, might look a lot like the Samba OG, or even the Gazelle. But the sneakers in question are actually a little less buzzy, and a lot more inside-baseball (heh): the GOAT’d, glorious Rod Laver.
MEGA
The Rod Laver is very much a low-key banger, especially compared to its Adidas stablemates. First introduced in collaboration with the eponymous tennis player in 1970, it hasn’t changed much in the 55 year since. The upper is still dripped out in clean leather, while a dash of suede keeps the toe box protected from scuffs and scratches. It’s finished off with special branding around the heel and a portrait of the man himself on the tongue.
In other words, the Rod Laver is the kind of shoe you buy if you don’t really care about hype. (Funnily enough, the specific version Clooney’s wearing here is one of the few exceptions to the rule—it notably features the Three Stripes’ signature, uh, three stripes, a flourish limited to a special-edition 2023 release.)
It’s not the type of sneaker you typically need to queue up for, or pay ridiculous resale prices to snag. It’s more of a quiet, confident silhouette—a little like George Clooney. And while his specific riff isn’t available anymore, there are plenty of general-release options you can cop right now.
4 More Slept-On Samba Alternatives From the Three Stripes
This story originally appeared on British GQ.