John Kim 
It’s like all the stars are aligning for Nike and Kobe Bryant in 2013. The ‘Year of the Snake’ closes out the full cycle of twelve after Nike first embarked upon these annual collections with the Horse in 2002, and with Kobe Bryant’s ‘Black Mamba’ being the perfect platform to launch the collection, it’s clear that Nike Basketball and Sportswear have been preparing for this monumental occasion. Releasing in China on January 18th, the Nike Kobe 8 “Black Mamba” features a luxurious black snake print on a leather-appointed upper, providing an attitude of class and ferocity in one bite. In addition, the Swoosh appears to be etched out, giving it a focus of Sportswear much like LeBron’s ‘Cork’ release does. Check out the new angles just below and let us know if the Nike Kobe 8 ‘Black Mamba’ Year of the Snake is a must-have for you, and be sure to keep in tune with Sneaker News for more updates on a stateside release.
