John Kim 
Over the last eight years, Kobe Bryant has grown to create an unbreakable legacy with Nike, pushing the limits of design, innovation, and style. Starting from the Air Zoom Kobe 1 in 2006 to the Kobe 8, the evolutionary process of the Kobe has been quite clear – lighter, faster, more versatile – and the Nike Kobe 8 System continues that concept, continuing the structure widely praised low-cut construction while infusing some fresh technology – namely the full-length LunarLon outsole and the all-new Engineered Mesh. Engineered Mesh provides 360-degree breathability while allowing the shoe to bend freely and naturally with the foot, while the LunarLon cushioning with the one-millimeter thick outsole keeps Kobe low to the ground for the ultimate in court-feel and maneuverability.
Eric Avar and the design team had much to work with for creating the aesthetic of the Kobe 8 shoe; with 2013 being the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac, Avar used the versatile EM textile to re-create a non-uniform snakeskin upper, with the detailed graphic providing more snake-like appeal. Overall, the Kobe 8 is the lightest it’s ever been, weighing in at just 9.6 ounces per size 9 shoe. The Nike Kobe 9 in the Black/Sulfur colorway will hit stores on December 20th, as will the Nike Kobe 8 iD. The python-inspired version releases in China on January 12th, 2013, and in North America on February 2nd.
“The KOBE 8 SYSTEM brings together performance innovations to create Kobe Bryant’s lowest and lightest performance basketball shoe to date.”
Nike Kobe 8 “Python” – Releases in China on January 12th, 2013, and in North America on February 2nd.
Nike Kobe 8 Black/Sulfur – Releases December 20, 2012
