Zack Schlemmer 
Less is more. That seems to be the prevailing design ethos of the latest Kobe Bryant signature shoe, the Nike Kobe X.
Now to his tenth model with the Swoosh, Kobe’s signature line has long-been a dominating force in the basketball sneaker market. Even though his first three models were all important designs in their own right, it wasn’t until the Kobe 4 in 2008 that the Black Mamba’s Nike line really garnered attention outside of the usual sneaker-minded crowds. Everyone was talking about the Kobe IV because of its then unorthodox use of a low-top cut, which defiantly rebelled against the standard mid and high top silhouettes of basketball.
It turned out a low-top basketball shoe could indeed still support your ankles amply on the court, as the Kobe 4 led the charge of many more lows to follow, including every Kobe signature until the Kobe 9 shocked again with its ultra-high-top Flyknit design. Now the Kobe X goes back to a low-top, with one of the most minimal looking yet deceivingly tech-filled Kobes to date. For the full story on the less-is-more approach to the Kobe X, head to the Dick’s Sporting Goods blog feature on the innovative basketball sneaker.
