HISTORY OF KOBE BRYENT'S MODELS

Today we look at the amazing career of the late legend Kobe Bryant and especially how he influenced sneaker culture with his signature models. Kobe was not only a distinctive personality on the court, but also an icon in the world of sneakers. Did you know that Kobe also had several models under adidas, or that he had his own colorways on select Jordan models?

In 1996, Kobe Bryant announced at a press conference that he was going straight to the NBA instead of the college league. His decision was immediately noticed by adidas, who took him under their wing for 6 straight seasons, during which Kobe won a slam dunk contest, launched his own sneaker line, and won three NBA titles.

His first models with adidas, such as the EQT Elevation and later the Crazy 97, marked the beginning of his long and successful career in sneaker design. These sneakers have become icons and are highly prized among collectors today.

The KB8 line, later renamed the Crazy 8, introduced Kobe as the main face of adidas. These shoes combined bold designs with Feet You Wear technology that made Kobe a star on and off the court.

Kobe Bryant has never hidden how much Michael Jordan was his inspiration, both on and off the court. He imitated Mike's moves from a young age, and they exchanged both rivalry and brotherly bonds in each other's matches. When Kobe was at the crossroads of his "tennis" career and freelancing after parting ways with adidas, he considered joining Jordan Brand. The Jordan line turned to Kobe with exclusive purple versions of the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 8 models that were specially modified for Bryant in 2002-2003. These retro adaptations of Mike's classic models from 1988 and 1993 were later re-released in 2016 as an exclusive collection as a tribute to Kobe's career.

Later, at Nike, Kobe resurrected the Huarache line, got his own signature models and released the Hyperdunk model, which became a phenomenon.

His later collaboration with Nike designer Eric Avar produced other revolutionary models such as the Nike Zoom Kobe 4, which popularized the low-cut basketball shoe. These models not only changed the rules of the game on the court, but also how players perceive tennis shoes.

Kobe's courage to experiment with design and functionality led him to create some of the most innovative and sought-after sneakers in history. His Nike Zoom Kobe 6, nicknamed the "Grinch," or the Kobe 9, which reflected his Achilles tendon recovery, show just how deep Kobe went to innovate.