Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Philadelphia on August 23rd, 1978, he played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and retired after his final game on April 13th, 2016. Bryant passed away on January 26th, 2020 as a result of a fatal helicopter accident. He was 41 years old.

Just as fans remain extremely dedicated to the late Laker legend, demand for his footwear is at all-time high. Nike’s “Protro” series (a portmanteau of Performance Retro) brought back plenty of iconic Black Mamba models in colorways new and old. Mamba Day in April brought a three-pack of massive releases- the Kobe 8 “Venice Beach,” Kobe 6 “Italian Camo” and Kobe 4 “Philly” all sold out instantly after dropping on the 12th. Later down the line, it would appear the Kobe 8 Protro is returning in GR-like “Team Bank” colorways this Fall, as images of simple, tonal pairs like the “Hollywood Nights” and “Wolf Grey” have emerged on a consistent basis over the past several months.

Bryant’s time with the Three Stripes continues to be a central piece of their basketball strategy as well. The Crazy 8 and Crazy 98, each worn by Bean in the early stages of his Lakers tenure, get new releases on a semi-regular basis. Additionally, models like the adidas Crazy IIINFINITY and Mad IIINFINITY represent how creatives at the German giant spin the design language of his signature adidas shoes into the future.

Looking ahead, select 2025 releases have already been tipped off for both brands. In Beaverton, the Nike Kobe 8 “What The” and Nike Kobe 6 “Sail” are the first confirmed pairs on what’s sure to be a packed slate next year. In Germany, the Crazy 2 will receive its second-ever retro, returning for the first time since the 2010s.

Below you’ll find our latest coverage of Bryant’s footwear from Nike and adidas, including new colorways, photos and release dates.