As a signature athlete of Nike, Kobe Bryant is arguably the most recognizable basketball player in the world. His colorways have extended globally to Asia and Europe. With many region exclusive shoes, the chase to grab the best colorways began.
All in one, we’ve compiled the 100 best Kobe Bryant sneakers and colorways to ever be released and hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane.
100. adidas Crazy 1 Sunshine
Two words: the sun. The adidas Sunshine was created with two things in mind: TO POP and TO STAND OUT!
99. Nike Kobe 6 Camouflage
If the U.S. Army allowed their members to choose their kicks, we would guarantee these would be on the feet of those who serve our wonderful and glorious country.
98. Nike Kobe 2 Strength Orca
The Kobe 2 Strength featured a stunning patent leather toe box. The shoes are rarely seen today since the model has always been completely underrated.
93. Nike Kobe 9 EXT Challenge Red
These Kobe 9 EXTs quickly drew Nike Yeezy 2 “Red October” comparisons. With it’s high top model and red leather, these are certain to break necks.
92. Nike Kobe 7 Cheetah
Different animal, same beast. The Kobe 7 debuted the Kobe System which to allowed users to swap out insoles for their preferred type of attack. This Cheetah colorway is a bit calmer than the Christmas Cheetah.
91. Nike Kobe 2 Black/Varsity Maize
Although they have the classic black and yellow, they aren’t part of the Del Sol colorway. The Varsity Maize was the original counterpart to the color black. Like the inscription on the strap, “Carpe Diem”; it was time to seize the day.
90. Nike Kobe 4 Black/Red
Michael Jordan was lucky to don the Chicago Bulls colorway for most of his career. Shoes can never go wrong in the black, red, and white.
89. adidas The KOBE Charcoal
Creativity at it’s finest. The Audi TT served as an inspiration and there are only few shoes that can touch this type of look.
88. Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 Los Angeles Map
These 2K5s feature the Lakers home colorway primarily matching the Sunday Whites. The laser engraved map of Los Angeles is the most unique trait.
83. Nike Huarache 2K4 Black/Gold Laser
The 2K4 Laser print makes another appearance on our list. This time in a much more eye catching fashion. The gold laser graces the entire upper of the black and white shoe.
82. Nike Hyperdunk Mamba PE
These special Hyperdunks came with a special look. The Mamba mentality came alive with the snakeskin on the toe. Kobe’s Olympic number 10 was embroidered on the front of the inner toe to complete the kicks.
81. Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low University Red
The Kobe 9 Elites low came in a few colorways. Fortunately each colorway was solid. The University Red uppers came with stylish mint splatter accents all over.
80. Nike Kobe 6 Glass Blue
The blend of bright, contrasting, and vibrant colors made Kobe fans go wild. The translucent and sparkly sole sets this colorway apart.
79. Nike Kobe 4 MPLS
The Minneapolis Lakers were made famous by George Mikan in the late 40s but Kobe is a huge reason why the colorways aren’t forgotten today.
78. Nike Kobe 4 Inline
This general release is one of those solid but underrated colors. You may have skipped on these at the release but seeing them on someone’s feet brings regret.
73. Nike Kobe 4 Carpe Diem
Kobe’s motto was “Carpe Diem”. He lived by the saying and captured his first championship without Shaq in the 4s.
72. adidas Kobe EQT Elevation Purple/Black/White
Do these look familiar? If you can’t pinpoint where you’ve seen them, Google “Kobe Bryant slam dunk contest”. Before the Afro, Kobe dazzled and took home some hardware in these purple EQT Elevations.
71. Nike Huarache 2K4 White/Purple Laser
This time, the purple laser print grazes a white leather upper. The 2K4s were highly regarded as a great basketball shoe.
70. Nike Kobe 4 MLK
On MLK day, the players bring their best kicks to the table. This subtle Lakers colorway is a heater.
69. Nike Kobe 5 Miles Davis
The best type of Jazz is when you can hear the emotions and blues from the artist. No-one did it better than Miles Davis in this dominantly blue model.
68. Nike Kobe 8 Purple Gradient
Many call these the second coming of the Kobe 5 Inks. Many of Kobe’s teammates wore these in the NBA Playoffs as they had to play without the superstar after he went down with the ruptured Achilles.
63. Nike Kobe 8 Elite Black/Gold
The Kobe 8s came in two Elite colorways. One was incredibly bright and flashy while this solid colorway became an underrated beauty.
62. Nike Kobe 9 EM China
The Chinese culture loves the color red; throw in gold and pandemonium happens. The Chinas are finished off with a festive decorative tongue.
61. Nike Kobe 6 Kay Yow
The iconic ribbon and eye-popping pink is the signature for breast cancer awareness.Why not spread love and attention in a positive manner?
60. Nike Kobe 7 Gold Medal
The 2012 Olympic Games concluded with another U.S. gold medal. They had finally put the disappointment and downfall behind them as they redeemed themselves and rose to the top.
59. Nike Kobe 1 All-Star
Back when the All-Star game was fun and filled with excitement, Kobe got to team up with the home-town hosts: Yao Ming and T-Mac.
58. Nike Kobe 6 Lightbulb
The Lightbulbs featured a reverse Del Sol look. With the majority of the shoe in yellow, they are complimented with subtle black and white accents.
53. Nike Kobe 6 All-Star West
These are one of the four pairs released for the 2011 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The red uppers were created to match the Western Conference jerseys.
52. Nike Kobe 8 Duke
Kobe skipped higher education to pursue a life in the NBA. On record, he claims he would have chose the University of North Carolina but we all know with Coach K around, Duke wasn’t out of the conversation.
51. Nike Kobe 5 Chaos
Kobe must’ve loved the Dark Knight trilogy. The Joker’s mindset was to create havoc and chaos in Gotham. The red splattered midsole is a nice additional touch.
50. Nike Kobe 1 81 Points
The shoes Kobe Bryant put the team on his back and willed them to a victory over the Toronto Raptors. Oh yeah, he didn’t just score, he dominated and poured in 81 points in unforgettable performance.
49. Nike Kobe 5 / Hyperdunk Aston Martin Pack
Kobe’s taste changed from Audi to Aston Martin. The gunmetal grey and burgandy is reminiscent of the Aston Martin DB9 Kobe jumped over. This Aston Martin pack was limited to 500 and the Hyperdunk model featured the Aston Martin logo on the tongue.
48. Nike Kobe 8 Easter
In an effort to mimic the traditional Easter egg; the Kobe 8 Easters feature pastel colors usually found on painted eggs. The colorway screams Lakers with a hint of flashiness.
43. Nike Kobe 7 What The Kobe
In this wild creation, the Kobe 7s are mashed up and throw onto this one shoe. Featuring many of the Kobe 7 models, these wild mismatched shoes brought back the “What The” hype.
42. Nike Kobe 4 Finals Home & Away
Both colorways commemorated t he 2009 season with Kobe’s stats splattered on the ankle and toe box. Following his 4th NBA Championship (first without Shaq), another version of the black Away colorway released with the MVP designs on the tongue.
41. Nike Kobe 9 Bruce Lee
The wildly popular Bruce Lee colorway returned onto the Kobe 9 EM. Originally the colorway was based off Lee’s iconic Game of Death jumpsuit.
40. Nike Kobe 5 Concord/Inline
The Kobe 5 came with a colorway that would look great with the Sunday Whites; the Inlines were inspired by the Concords.
39. Nike Kobe 3 Prelude
Also nicknamed “Misery”, the Lakers fell in the finals to their rivals, the Boston Celtics. The dark inspirations can be seen in each of the fresco brush strokes throughout the black upper of the Kobe III.
38. Nike Kobe 6 Westchester
Westchester High School was blessed to receive their exclusive version of the Kobe 6. Featuring a red and black gradient transition, the Westchesters easily resemble the annual All-Star jerseys.
33. Nike Kobe 7 Prelude
The Kobe 7 Prelude came in the black with an eye catching gold accent. The gold heel cap represents the Gold Medal captured in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
32. Nike Kobe 5 Bruce Lee
One of Kobe’s main influences is the martial artist, Bruce Lee. Lee fought Kareem Abdual Jabbar in “Game of Death”. Fun Fact: Chuck Norris made a cameo appearance too.
31. Nike Kobe Hyperdunk Marty McFly
Great Scott! These Hyperdunks are eye-catching. Based on Marty McFly’s Air Mags, the Hyperdunk version is incredibly clean.
30. Nike Kobe 9 Maestro
With the All-Star Game in New Orleans, Nike’s designers came up with the Gumbo League Collection. Jazz music inspired, the soles glow in the dark too.
29. Nike Kobe 4 Gold Medal
The Gold Medals feature Kobe’s Olympic Team USA number 10 on the heel while the insoles have a gold medal sign. With gold touches all around, it’s a refreshing change to the classic red, white, and blue.
28. Nike Kobe 8 BHM
The black and grey upper features an African pattern in honor of Black History Month. Contrasted with orange, the shoes make a clean colorway for the popular Kobe 8s.
23. Nike Kobe 8 Mambacurial
Based off Nike’s popular Mercurial boot, the Kobe 8s get a touch of futbol. The Swoosh comes across the toe rather than the middle of the lateral side.
22. Nike Kobe 9 Elite NRG Volt
New York City got lucky as the first two Kobe 9 Elites released surprisingly at 21 Mercer and Dover Street Market. The Volts give the classic black and white a shock of personality.
21. Nike Kobe 8 All Star
The Galaxy Pack was phenomenal and the following All-Star design was just as impressive. The Kobe 8 Area 72 “Extraterrestrial” featured a wild design mimicking a planet’s surface.
20. Nike Kobe 6 Prelude
The Kobe 6 Preludes were inspired by the Southern California lifestyle. Sealife blended with stars came together in typcial Van Gogh fashion.
19. Nike Kobe 4 Pop
In this sleek colorway, the Kobe 4s got a refreshing and unique crest on the tongue. The support and love his family fuels the Mamba’s drive to greatness.
18. Nike Kobe 5 All-Star
Kobe Bryant was at the peak of his game and the fans knew it. Becoming the leading vote getter, he was unfortunately forced to sit out with an injury during the All-Star Game in Dallas in front of 108,000+ fans
13. Nike Kobe 7 Year of the Dragon
Kobe usually pays homage to the Chinese Zodiac. In 2012, the Year of the Dragon presented an opportunity to make a great shoe and Nike prevailed.
12. Nike Kobe 9 Masterpiece
The Kobe 9 Masterpiece become the first model released. The shoes lived up to the nickname as it they acted as a canvas for the art of basketball.
11. Nike Kobe 2 Prelude
The Kobe Prelude 2 is inspired by marble from the European Renaissance. In the season that Kobe wore the 2s, he scored 50+ points in four consecutive games on his route to a scoring title.
10. Nike Kobe 5 Dark Knight
Kobe’s dark persona can be compared to the Dark Knight. The Black Mamba’ comes out with a professional and sleek look. Cam, dark, and collected; the Dark Knight speaks for itself.
8. Nike Kobe 8 Spark
In order to start a fire, you first need a spark. These definitely provided fuel to the Kobe 8 hype.
6. Nike Kobe 9 Mamba Moment
Kobe Bryant hits two free throws to pass M.J. at the Target Center in Minnesota. The Mamba Moments were available to those quick enough to customize and order theirs off Nike iD.
4. Nike Kobe 6 Grinch
The Grinches are probably the best Christmas inspired shoe ever. The eye-popping upper strongly resembles Dr. Seuss’ character. Upon release, these were an instant classic.
2. Nike Kobe 8 What The Kobe
Both sneakers are completely different. The left shoe comes in a cool blue hue while the right shoe is a fiery furnace ready to be unleashed.
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