Nike To Honour NBA Legend Kobe Bryant With 7-Day Special Sneaker Launches

Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant came in as a high-school graduate, not playing college basketball. He was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in 1996, but then immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant spent every season of his 20-year career with the Lakers. He won five Championships, two Finals MVPs, and the 2008 regular season MVP.

Kobe Bryant was an icon for kids growing up in the 2000s. ‘Mamba Mentality’ was almost mystified, as kids shouted “Kobe!” while shooting paper balls into trash cans. Kobe’s untimely passing in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the basketball fraternity. Bryant was four years into retirement and embarking on the next chapter to help his daughters succeed. Bryant passed away with Gianna Bryant, his 14-year old daughter who looked destined for the WNBA.

Nike is honoring Kobe’s legacy August 23 onwards in their ‘Mamba Week’. This week will feature retail launches and programs in memory of the great Bryant. Nike will also be donating a million dollars to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. Mambacita was the nickname many people had given Gigi Bryant.

Kobe Bryant ‘Mamba Week’

This is a good gesture by Nike. Bryant’s passing has left a cloud over basketball fandom which hangs to this day. Seeing him become a regular fixture on the news and watching him on courtside this season make it feel that much more unreal. Fans have been looking for ways to cling on to Kobe, as his role in shaping a generation was quite indelible.

Nike will probably resell older Kobe shoes like the Kobe 4, 5, and 6. These are valuable shoes that are known to be the best shoes produced under Kobe’s name. However, Nike may also be looking to make some new merchandise in Kobe’s honor. Nike said that Kobe 5’s would release in a new colorway this year but they haven’t intimated a launch date.

Considering how aggressive sneakerheads are, we can expect these shoes to constantly be out of stock. Ideally, Nike has prepared for the demand and have enough stock to sell. Otherwise, we will see a lot of sneaker trading websites light up with the shoe available at a higher rate. Hopefully, this isn’t just a cash-grab by Nike in Kobe’s name and this week could genuinely result in the appreciation of Kobe’s impact on basketball.