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.

Kobe Bryant

NCAA Feet: Week Of 11/28 – 12/4

Nothing like a heap of NCAA Feet on-court fire to get your week going. NCAA players nationwide have displayed their attention to sneaker detail quite...

By John Kim December 5, 2011
4702

NCAA Feet: Opening Week Of The 2011-2012 Season

Basketball certainly doesn’t stop at the collegiate level, so here’s a gluttonous helping of sneakers spotted during the opening week of games of the 2011-2012...

By John Kim November 14, 2011
749

The 25 Best Sneakers in NBA Finals History

The NBA Finals is the grandest stage in professional basketball and a dream come true for marketing execs – especially in the footwear world. The...

By John Kim June 1, 2011
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NBA Feet: 2011 Playoffs Round 2 – Part 4

Get your tickets ready, Southern Floridians, because the Miami Heat are now one of two teams that will fight for the right to play for...

By John Kim May 12, 2011
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NBA Feet: 2011 Playoffs Round 2 – Part 3

Who will be the 2011 NBA Champions? The two-time defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers won’t be the last team standing, as they fell to the...

By John Kim May 9, 2011
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NBA Feet: 2011 Playoffs Round 2 – Part 2

More Round 2 Games were scheduled in the prior two nights, with some interesting developments already in the works. The Los Angeles Lakers fell to...

By John Kim May 4, 2011
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50 Greatest NBA Player Exclusives of All-Time

If you’re a sneakerhead and a fan of the NBA, there’s no better cross-over than the Player Exclusive sneaker – the shoe made with a...

By John Kim May 2, 2011
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NBA Feet: 2011 Playoffs Round 1 – Part 5

Chicago’s in, Orlando’s still alive, things aren’t looking great for the Spurs, and the Nuggets can dig for one more day. The 2011 NBA Playoffs...

By John Kim April 27, 2011
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NBA Feet: 2011 Playoffs Round 1 – Part 4

Four games into Round 1, and the picture depicting the NBA Champions are a bit more clear. For one, it’s not orange and blue, thanks...

By John Kim April 25, 2011
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