John Kim The New York Knicks’ championship run produced no shortage of memorable sneaker moments thanks to Jalen Brunson. The face of the Kobe Brand became the centerpiece of an advertisement the moment the Knicks secured the ‘chip, stepping beyond footwear and further bonding the Finals MVP with the growing efforts of the late Kobe Bryant’s subsidiary with Nike.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Roommates podcast as part of a Foot Locker Heat Check segment, the Knicks point guard offered some behind-the-scenes look at the footwear decisions that accompanied New York’s run to the NBA title.
Asked to name his favorite PE from the season, Brunson immediately pointed to the pink Kobe 5 Protro inspired by his daughter Jordyn’s pajamas. Decorated with pink and purple heart graphics, the sentimental colorway also happened to become something of a good-luck charm, with Brunson noting that the Knicks remained undefeated whenever he wore the pair.
Perhaps the most interesting revelation centered on the Kobe 6 Protro “Statue Of Liberty.” Brunson revealed he intentionally wore the mint-green colorway for Game 5 of the NBA Finals because the Knicks had previously won both the NBA Cup and the Eastern Conference Finals clincher while he wore the same pair. Coincidentally, Josh Hart also laced up the same shoes that night, although he switched to the “Total Orange” halftime. When asked why NBA players change shoes mid-game, both Jalen and Josh agreed the answer comes down to one thing: “the feel.”
Brunson also revealed that one unreleased Kobe PE never saw the floor. Although he originally planned to debut the mystery pair during the Finals, the decision to stick with his trusted “Statue Of Liberty” Kobes for the championship-clinching Game 5 meant the sneaker remained in the vault. It’s unclear what this PE looks like.
The conversation also shed light on Nike’s collaborative process. Brunson confirmed that he works closely with the brand when determining which of his Player Exclusives eventually make it to retail. See the entire excerpt (and episode) below.
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