Nike Is Releasing a New Kobe Bryant Tribute Sneaker

Riley Jones

September 5, 2024 at 1:17 AM·3 min read

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After Vanessa Bryant and her daughters debuted new Kobe Bryant-themed Nike Air Force 1s during the Mamba League Invitational on August 24, more looks are surfacing of another special version of the sneaker tied to the late NBA legend.

Previously teased by Vanessa in February 2024, this Kobe Bryant-branded Nike Air Force 1 Low is confirmed to be released later this year. While not quite as elaborate as the “Queen Mamba” pair worn by Vanessa at the Mamba League Invitational, this upcoming pair is simple in its color blocking but carries a noteworthy backstory.

The mostly white leather sneaker features the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers, using the team’s gold shade for the majority of accents but adding purple on the border of the Swoosh and the tongue’s branding. Kobe’s autograph also appears in metallic gold on the woven tongue label. At the heel, Kobe’s signature sheath logo is imprinted — a detail that covered the entirety of the upper on the pairs worn by his daughters Bianka and Capri at the August tournament.

Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Kobe Bryant’ 2024. Credit: @kicksdong

According to Vanessa’s February Instagram post previewing this Air Force 1 Low, the pair is inspired by Kobe’s sneaker free agency during the 2002-03 NBA season. After reportedly paying $8 million to end his deal with Adidas in ’02, the terms of the contract stated Bryant couldn’t sign with a competing brand for one year. Although he was forbidden from inking a deal, brands were still eager to court the Lakers star and created several player exclusive colorways for him.

Over the course of the season, Bryant would wear an Air Force 1 Mid with a similar look to the upcoming Air Force 1 Low release as well as special iterations of the Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 7, Air Jordan 8, Nike Air Flight Huarache and Reebok Question.

Bryant ultimately signed with Nike and, alongside designer Eric Avar, created one of the most groundbreaking signature lines in basketball sneaker history. The line is credited with popularizing low-top basketball shoes and is often viewed as a reference for many of today’s most highly acclaimed performance pairs.

Although there is currently no confirmed release date for this Nike Air Force 1 Low “Kobe Bryant” colorway, the pair will be released sometime this holiday season for an expected retail price of $145.