The 24 Best Kobe Bryant Sneakers of All Time
You're welcome.
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It’s crazy to think that Kobe Bryant is over 15 years deep in the league. You remember when he was fresh off prom with Brandy, sporting the baby fro, and had to have his parents sign his first contract because he wasn’t even of legal age. The road since then hasn’t always been so easy—some big playoff airballs, so-called beef with you know who, and father time creeping up—being Kobe has never been easy. When it’s all said and done though, it is easy to agree that he is one of the best to ever do it. One ring short of Mike and still in pursuit of happiness, KB is anything but done. To help celebrate his birthday (tomorrow) we decided to go through his best kicks since he entered the league—from adidas, to PE Js, and his own signature series with Nike—we present The 24 Best Kobe Bryant Sneakers of All Time. Hit the jump and let us know which pair is a must for any basketball collection.
AF1 x Foam High
24. Nike Air Force 1 High Foamposite "Eggplant" x Kobe Bryant
Year: 2011
You know you've made it as a Nike Basketball athlete when you get your own Air Force Is. Kobe had gotten special makeups for himself before, but these Foam Highs were available to all—and so, so sick.
Huarache 2K5 Kobe
23. Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 "Kobe"
Year: 2005
We all thought that after a full year of exclusive Jordans and another season of exclusive Huaraches that we were ready to see Kobe start his own Roman numeral count but he took one for the team and continued to help push Nike's hottest team shoe. But we all knew these were Kobe's shoe, no need for the name.
Kobe 5 Bruce Lee
22. Nike Zoom Kobe V "Bruce Lee"
Year: 2010
Kobe has made it no secret of his admiration for the ex-martial arts legend/actor. In the movie Game of Death, Lee went head-to-head against a Laker legend (Kareem) and donned a dope black and yellow jumpsuit in the scenes. Fast forward a few decades, Kobe's crew decided to incorporate the color scheme on his Vs—making them one of his memorable colorways.
Kobe 4 Finals
21. Nike Zoom Kobe IV "Finals"
Yeah: 2009
Remember when the Lakers used to make the Finals? While the Staples faithful hope Dwight Howard can bring 'em back, we can reminisce over Kobe's tagged-up home and road joints from '09. Louis Vuitton swag.
adidas Kobe II Flag
Kobe x Aston Martin Pack
19. Nike Kobe x Aston Martin Pack
Year: 2010
Ok, so technically this is two shoes, but we're going to count the limited pack as one of Kobe’s greatest sneaker drops. The odds of getting them were slim but worth it even if you were catching some zzz’s on the streets of Lost Angels. Designed after one of the greatest cars you never see on the streets, the Hyperdunk and Kobe V features sleek and dark color hits—if you have the money under your mattress we give you the green light to give in to obnoxious reselling.
Hyperdunk Olympics PE
18. Nike Zoom Hyperdunk Olympic PE
Year: 2008
The Hyperdunks could be considered the entry point to the future from Nike Basketball. The shoe was everything a basketball player needed—light, responsive, supportive, durable, and they looked fresh on foot. In 2008, Nike laced all its players on the Olympic roster to help introduce them to the world and Mr. Bryant got a special edition to help commemorate his gold medal efforts in Spain. Hiss.
adidas The KOBE "Black"
17. adidas The KOBE "Black"
Year: 2008
Want to see how good a shoe design is? Put it out in all black (or all white) and see whether it still works. The Audi-inspired The KOBE? It works.
Nike Huarache 2K4 Kobe
Nike Kobe 7 Cheetah
15. Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Cheetah"
Year: 2011
The VIIs shared a lot of the same features and ideas as the IVs - IVs but truly moved things forward for Kobe's brand with interchangeable cushioning and ankle heights a la Jordan 2012. And like the other models, these saw a Christmas Day launch via Kobe himself—this time on a pushed-back opening day. Nobody missed these.
Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Great White"
Kobe 2 Strength Orca
13. Nike Zoom Kobe II Strength "Orca"
Year: 2007
The Kobe II Orcas shared similar design cues with LeBron's Soldier IIIs, with the lower part of the kicks Zoom build-up being almost identical as well as the patent leather hits on the toe. Bryant switched it up drastically from the Kobe I and started to come into his own in terms of his own signature make-ups—even though the shoe’s influences were clearly “Concord” related. The “Orcas” are easily the most slept on Kobe model with The Swoosh—and the multiple shoes for multiple purposes was foreshadowing of the System to come. You're welcome.
Kobe 6 Grinch
12. Nike Zoom Kobe VI "Grinch"
Year: 2010
The Kobe VI introduced the reptile scale feel for the "Black Mamba" and even trimmed more fat (tenths of an ounce) to keep Kobe light on the hardwood. Bryant broke out these Christmas editions versus the Heat, who robbed the Lakers of their holiday cheer. All wasn’t bad though, fans celebrities got a free pair of the kicks with the purchase of their courtside seats.
Kobe 6 3D
11. Nike Zoom Kobe VI "3D"
Year: 2011
Avatar had a huge impact on pop culture and after that the 3D phenomenon was just hitting its resurgent stride—of course the heads in Beaverton took the opportunity to cook up one of the most interesting concepts for Kobe’s line. The upper featured a raised texture of blue and red, mimicking 3-D capability and even had a pair of glasses stitched inside the tongue. With All-Star Weekend in L.A., it was a perfect idea, perfectly executed.
Nike Huarache PE
Kobe 6 Barcelona
9. Nike Zoom Kobe VI "FC Barcelona"
Year: 2011
We know, we know—you’re still mad you never got your hands on these. Us too. The shoe was actually debuted by a Chicagoan—no, not him. Ty with LDRS1354 threw these up on his blog and had the internet goings nuts. The infrared-infused upper was a connection to the futbol club that inspired the sneaks and a nod to Kobe’s first love. Is it too early to ask Nike for a re-release? Please?
Jordan 8 PE
adidas EQT Elevation
adidas the Kobe 1 "Sunshine"
adidas KB8 All Star
5. adidas KB8 "All Star"
Year: 1998
For the youth, yes these are the shoes you were likely ballin’ out of control in last year. After a player leaves a brand, so does the name. In KB’s first All-Star game, the kid donned his first true signature joints when he went head-to-head with the greatest in the World's Most Famous Arena. Even as he tried to match MJ shot for shot, he more impressively took him to a draw in the shoe game. Not that Mike would ever admit it.
Nike Zoom Kobe V "Chaos"
4. Nike Air Zoom Kobe V "Chaos"
Year: 2009
The true low-cut Zoom Kobe V entered the world with a bang, introduced on Christmas Day via the "Chaos" edition, which featured foil-like panels as well as a subtly red-spattered midsole, perhaps reflecting on the fate of Kobe's on-court victims. Red boot-type laces finished them off lovely—there would be way more makeups to come, but you always remember the first.
Air Jordan VII Kobe PE
Kobe 4 Carpe Diem
2. Nike Zoom Kobe IV "Carpe Diem"
Year: 2008
It took a few years before Nike put the right product behind one of its greatest superstars, but when they finally did they launched one of its best basketball shoes to date. The Kobe IV was everything but conventional when it came to basketball sneakers—the low-top soccer style cut and sleek design was unlike anything Nike (who had been in a bit of slump) had put out. And it was only the beginning.
Jordan 3 PE
1. Air Jordan III PE
Year: 2003
It was cool to see young Kob' do his thing and help adidas evolve into a competitive brand, but when all the Jordan comparisons hit it was insane to see him throwing down crazy dunks and hitting fadeaways in some player-edition IIIs. During Kobe's brief stint as a sneaker free agent, Jordan Brand laced him with player exclusives of the Jordan greats and executed the Lakers purple and gold perfectly on each kick. The IIIs were unmatched—although it would have been ill to see an "away" set.