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via Getty

via Getty

Kobe Bryant has the most worn shoes in the NBA. This is just another ode to his influence on the players. His competitive spirit has changed how people view the game. But even after being the competitor that he is, he did not play for the Olympic team in his first 11 years in the league. This was because of various circumstances that prevented him from doing so. Finally, in 2008, he made his debut with the ‘Redeem Team’.

After taking back the crown the team had lost in the 2004 Olympics, Nike and Bryant launched their signature Kobe Protro ‘Gold Medal’ to celebrate the victory in 2009.

Iconic Kobe Bryant shoes are returning in 2024

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Now, 14 years later, the iconic Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Gold Medal” will be making a return in fall 2024. So it’s safe to say that fans will be able to witness players wearing this at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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The Protro “Gold Medal” was first released back in 2009. This was to celebrate Team USA’s win in the 2009 Beijing Olympics. Just like how it was back in 2009, the shoe will have a white, dark obsidian, varsity red, and metallic gold color scheme.

The most eye-catching feature will, of course, be the gold color that stands out along with the red laces. The exact release date of the shoes is still unknown, but it will definitely be before the Olympics.

Back in 2008, the USA Basketball team had an important task in front of them. Team USA did not win gold in the 2004 Olympics in basketball. This was embarrassing at the time.

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The eyes of the world were on the USA, and they wanted to show everyone that they were still the best in the world. For this, they created the ‘Redeem Team’, and the rest is history.

A similar situation has come up once again. Team USA failed to take home gold in the past few FIBA World Cups, and now they are yet again put in a position to show the world what they are capable of.

USA is making a new Redeem Team

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In 2023, the magnitude of the FIBA defeat was heavily highlighted following comments from track athlete Noah Lyles that stirred the conversation about NBA champions not being world champions.

This led to a split in perception between NBA players, the media, and the fans. Once Team USA failed to win gold in the FIBA World Cup, USA basketball faced major backlash, and people started to question if the rest of the world had caught up to America.

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This did not sit well with the players, and now they are forming a super-team for the Olympics. It’s easy to dub this ‘Redeem Team 2’. The best players from the USA have all shown their interest in representing their country in the 2024 Olympics.

With the Kobe shoes making a comeback, the players are sure to pay their respects to the Lakers legend and sport this out on the court. What do you think of the Protro ‘Gold Medal’? Let us know in the comments.