5. adidas KOBETWO (2001)
The adidas KOBETWO is probably the most divisive of any of Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes. For that reason alone it probably deserves to be on this list. At the time of its release, the sneaker was largely panned by critics and collectors alike, who thought it to be overweight (19.5 ounces in men’s size 11), unresponsive (stiffness was a common complain), and/or just plain ugly (some called them “moonboots” or “space clogs”). Even Bryant seemed to despise them, as evidenced by his conspicuous reversion back to the adidas The KOBE during the 2002 NBA playoffs, and eventual split with the adidas. Looking back, Bryant’s final sneaker with the Three Stripes wasn’t all bad, though. The design was sleek, simple, and adhered to a unique, singular vision.
4. adidas Equipment Elevation (1997)
Sneakers, in basketball especially, are intrinsically tied to moments in a player’s career. Back when Bryant was a gangly 18-year old rookie he made his first meaningful splash in the NBA at the 1997 Dunk Contest. On his feet? The adidas EQT Elevation. This shoe featured adidas’ Feet You Wear technology from the mid-to-late 90s, which, as the name suggests, molded the sneakers to the feet of the player you wore (As the print ads state, “Kobe’s Feet Work. We Copied Them”). While hardly earth-shattering tech by today’s standards, Feet You Wear was rather innovative at the time.
3. Nike Zoom Kobe I (2006)
After rocking the Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5 for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, respectively, the folks in Beaverton finally gave Bryant his own signature kicks in 2006. Designed by Ken Link, the Nike Zoom Kobe I was an intentionally robust sneaker, incorporating a leather outer, TPU heel wrap, high collar and giant forefoot “outrigger,” that, together, ensured the support and stability a slasher like Kobe needed to withstand the intensity of an NBA game. The oversized Nike swooshes on the lateral and medial sides contributed to a conservative appeal reminiscent of the Air Force One and/or Dunk.
2. adidas The KOBE (2000)
adidas’ The KOBE offers a curious design story. Unlike most sneakers, which are engineered in-house, The KOBE was the product of a collaboration between adidas and German auto company, Audi, that drew direct inspiration from Audi’s TT Roadster sports car. Its silhouette, clean lines, and matte-like construction are perhaps the most obvious design cues, but smaller details like the outersole arc and bullet-nosed toe (complete with grill) reveal how closely designer Eierik Nielsen kept to the Audi source material. For his part, Bryant busted these out in the second round of the 2000 NBA Playoffs (he wore the Concord Supreme in the round previous) before any information regarding the shoes had been made available to the public.
1. adidas KB8 (1998)
Bryant was awarded his first signature sneaker by adidas at just 19 years old. Betting on Bryant was a bullish move by adidas given his age and relative inexperience as a pro, but even then, his star power was undeniable. During the 1997-98 regular season, Bryant averaged 15.4 PPG alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones, and fans voted him into the 1998 All-Star Game as the youngest starter in NBA history. The KB8 personified Kobe’s exciting, and almost reckless style of the play as a sophomore.
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