Kobe Bryant signed a four-year, $40 million deal with Nike after Adidas presented their crazy shoe designs that Kobe had a hard time working with. From there we have seen the Kobe Nike Signature shoes blossom.
In 2002, Kobe pulled out of the Adidas endorsement. He was without an endorsement deal for a whole year until he finally signed with Nike. His first Adidas shoe was known as “The Toaster”, simply because of its design and structure. The Kobe 2’s were said to be as uncomfortable as they looked. Adidas attempted to take a different direction with the KB8 III, but Kobe was still unhappy and that was the last shoe Adidas designed for Kobe.
KOBE x NIKE
Nike took over, designing the Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 which was mostly popular with the ballers because of its comfort and its protective collar. Kobe scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in those sneakers, making history. When Kobe won his lone MVP award, he was rocking the high-cut Nike Zoom Kobe III’s and that is what the pair of sneakers were remembered by. In December 2008, Kobe wore the Nike Zoom Kobe 4s which is known as his best signature sneaker. By the end of that season, Kobe claimed his first career Finals MVP. Until this day, over 100 active NBA players wear Kobe 4’s.
Anthony Davis wore more Kobe’s than any other NBA player, especially the Kobe 5’s. “I always wore high-tops and mids, honestly. Then maybe two years ago, I was trying different shoes. I put the Kobes on, and I just felt like I was faster,” said Davis when asked why the Kobe 5’s. During the 2019-2020 NBA season, 102 NBA players wore 280 pairs of Kobe’s Nike sneakers; the Kobe 5s being the most worn.
CONCLUSION
Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant has mentioned that she would not be renewing the Nike x Kobe contract. The contract ended early this year (April 2021). It was the end of a 5-year deal Kobe signed when he retired. These news resulted in some sellers marking up prices. This is because every shoe that Kobe has worn has a story of his journey, his passion, his success and his failures. This come from winning championships, MVPs, making history, getting injured and scoring titles. The Kobe Nike Signature Shoes are legendary.
