Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers may already be out for the rest of the current NBA season after recently undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff but that did not prevent Nike from launching over the weekend his 10th signature shoe officially called “Nike Kobe 10.”
The new sneaker is scheduled for release in the sneaker market on Valentine’s Day, February 14, which will also be coinciding with the NBA All-Star Weekend in New York City.
There will also be a special edition of the sneaker specifically meant for the NBA All-Star Weekend and it’s called the “Nike Kobe 10 All-Star” which shall retail for $200. It would show only very little variation from the base “Nike Kobe 10” model, notes Kicks on Fire.
The sneaker will have a geometric pattern on the medial sides and a black mesh upper portion. The Swoosh will have silver accents while the tongue and heel shall also add on to the unique colorway. The midsole and outsole shall have a multi-color gradient to complete the distinct look of the sneaker.
A long-time partnership
The Black Mamba was previously the sneaker model of Adidas during his early years in the NBA. Kobe’s partnership with Nike as his official sports outfitter began in 2008 that officially commenced with the launching of the first Kobe Bryant signature shoe called the “Hyperdunk.”
When it comes to basketball shoes, Kobe Bryant’s sneakers always become part of the discussion along with those of LeBron James and several other NBA stars, all behind Michael Jordan, whose signature shoes are the biggest signature shoe lines in basketball history.
The major distinction between the shoe lines for Jordan, James and Bryant is the fact that the Black Mamba did not start his career with the Nike brand. Fresh out of high school and only 17 years old, he signed a six-year endorsement deal with Adidas for $48 million.
Eventually, Kobe Bryant would rise to become one of the best NBA basketball superstars to play the game and by the time his six-year contract with Adidas draws to an end, the sneaker company was along for the ride including some of its rather crazy shoe designs.
Kobe began his interlude with Nike with the inaugural signature shoe design called Nike Air Huarache which Kobe wore for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. The following season, the Nike Zoom Kobe I, also known as the “Hyperdunk” made its debut and has become one of the most popular signature shoe lines since then.
Understated design
Nike made use of an understated design for “Nike Kobe 10” with a seamless open-weave textile upper. The company says that the shoe has the most effective traction system in the 43-year history of Nike’s basketball shoes, reports Yahoo News!
It’s also ideal for both indoor and outdoor courts due largely in part to the outsole covered in nodules which is similar to the treads used in racecar tires.
Nike will also be launching a new collection of Kobe Bryant-inspired clothes and accessories to go with the “Nike Kobe 10” including sweatshirts, pants and backpacks among other items.