Sports brand adidas is continuing Kobe Bryant's legacy by re-releasing his adidas sneakers. The shoes come out in 2022 and are worth waiting for.
Kobe Bean Bryant
Kobe Bryant has been gone for a year and a half now, but they say 'legends never really die'. The Los Angeles Lakers legend lives on in the minds of many fans, and apparently in the minds of adidas as well.
Kobe played his entire 20-year career for the LA-based basketball club, so if the purple and yellow-gold colours come to mind, that's correct. To commemorate the legend again, you can see a top 10 best Kobe moments in the video below. One comment from the comment section stuck with me: don't cry because he's gone. Smile because he existed.
Confusion between Nike and adidas
Bryant signed with adidas in 1996. He became a top athlete with the brand before his professional basketball career even began. After his contract expired, he signed a new deal with Nike in 2003. He then remained a Nike athlete for the rest of his professional career.
So why is adidas releasing a new Kobe sneaker?
Vanessa Bryant is the wife of the five-time champion and she has a good explanation for this. She stated that she was unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension at Nike. It is therefore unlikely that any 'Black Mamba' products will be released by the American sports brand in the near future.
This is very convenient for the German sports brand adidas. Many Kobe fans are eager for the release of the adidas sneakers. After his death, not much has been done in terms of sneaker releases in memory of the basketballer and adidas takes the first step.
Kobe Bryant adidas sneakers
adidas plans to re-release in 2022 two of the sneakers that Kobe Bryant wore when he was signed to the brand. They are the Kobe 1 and the EQT Elevation.
Kobe 1
This is Bryant's signature shoe inspired by the Audi TT. This 2001 adidas sneaker is also known as the Crazy 1. Two retro colorways will be released: the yellow 'Sunshine' pair and the black and white 'Stormtrooper' version. The sunshine kick will be released in April 2022 in conjunction with the McDonald's All-American Game. This is an all-star event for high school basketball players.
EQT Elevation
This pair is also known as the Crazy 97. The shoes have a special meaning. Bryant wore the kicks during his 1997 victory in the Slam Dunk Contest at the All-Star Game in Cleveland. Next year in February 2022, the NBA All-Star Game will take place in Cleveland again. Hence, the shoes will be released around this time in the original purple and yellow colorway that Bryant wore. There will also be a blue and orange colorway (GY9125). This pair is inspired by the court and tickets from the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.
Our news page will keep you updated on the adidas Kobe Bryant sneakers. Scroll through our release calendar if you want to check out even more upcoming adidas sneakers. Are you also active on Twitter? We are too! Follow our Twitter page for additional sneaker news and updates on upcoming adidas drops.