When Kobe’s relationship with adidas ended, it was a mystery as to what brand he would ultimately join forces with. Eventually opting to sign with Nike, the union has grown to become the standard in the world of professional sports and high performance sneakers. Since Michael Jordan retired, no single NBA player has generated this much hype and anticipation surrounding the evolution of his own signature line. What began as a sort of leap of faith with the Nike Zoom Kobe IV and its low-top construction, the Nike Zoom Kobe V took the concept to another level. Now it seems that the Nike Zoom Kobe VI is primed and eager to set its own boundaries as the premiere high performance basketball shoe.
Yesterday, Nike finally introduced the sixth signature sneaker in Kobe’s burgeoning global brand. Mamba himself offered some insight as well saying, “The Kobe VI is a very character driven shoe with the alter ego of the Black Mamba prominently featured. We continue to evolve the technology to make it a performance based shoe, but aesthetically you haven’t seen a shoe pop like this before. It brings to life what drives me.”
The man isn’t lying. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe that a basketball shoe has ever had such a centrally focused identity. The upper itself, wrapped in a faux snake skin that is actually a lot more than meets the eye. The scales are composed of polyurethane and vary in size throughout the shoe, depending on where protection against abrasion and durability are most needed. Now, as I said, there is more to the build than what you may think.
The Kobe VI’s snake skin layer is one of three that comprise the upper. The scales sit atop a layer of breathable mesh and beneath that, a layer of Flywire, which itself rests above another layer of inner mesh that actually lines the foot. This lightweight three-layer construction contributes tremendously to the VI’s 10.6 ounce svelte weight. Eric Avar, Creative Director of performance footwear at Nike and Kobe’s go-to man for all things concerning his kicks, also led the way in slashing down the thickness of the Phylon midsole in order to close the distance between the court and our feet for a much more intimate oncourt feel.
The Nike Zoom Kobe VI is also outfitted with a dual-memory sock liner that truly molds to the wearer’s foot and combined with the Phylon midsole, the shoe provides a unique experience to each of its hosts. Zoom air units in the forefoot and heel provide cushion, stability and comfort during play and a newly designed herringbone traction pattern on the full rubber outsole offers top-of-the-line traction and grip on whatever surface you choose to victimize the competition.
Avar, who is essentially now Kobe’s own version of MJ’s Tinker Hatfield adds, ““The Black Mamba to Kobe means being one of the deadliest predators on the planet. That’s his approach to every game – he’s very calculating and he’s very quick.” The notion being “deadly” is even given a bit of tribute in the “Venomenon” inscription on the front tip of the outsole.
Ever since the Nike Zoom Kobe V debuted last year, I was wondering how Nike was going to exceed the performance of that particular shoe, but it seems as though you can never doubt what Eric Avar and his team is capable of. We also have to bear in mind that Kobe himself is very involved and hands-on when it comes to the development of his kicks.
Call it fate or mere coincidence, but Mamba won his fourth championship ring wearing his fourth signature shoe and then his fifth wearing the Kobe V.
Will the Nike Zoom Kobe VI have the privilege of winning Kobe’s sixth chip? Stay tuned.
The Nike Zoom Kobe VI will drop at retailers and Nikestore.com on December 26, 2010. NIKEiD is going to give fans a special sneak peek of the NIKEiD version on December 10th through Facebook at facebook.com/nikeid and customized pairs will become available for purchase on December 24, 2010!
[Original Release: 2010; Weight: 10.6 oz.; Players: Kobe Bryant]
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source: dimemag.com, nicekicks.com