Kobe Bryant may have started his career with adidas, but he signed with Nike in 2003. Then Nike really got to work releasing scores of Bryant models that had sneakerheads scrambling. Here are the Black Mamba’s models with Nike from 2001-2018.
Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4
As a free agent in 2003, Kobe wore a bit of everything, but he landed on the Huarache as his chosen shoe in 2004. Legal reasons prevented Nike from giving Bryant a direct signature shoe, but he helped to bring attention again to the Huarache brand that was first released in 1992.
Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 KB
Once Kobe landed on the Huarache as his preferred shoe, Nike began to release colors that would mix with the star’s Lakers uniform. That included these kicks, with an awesome black and purple colorway that he would wear in 2004.
Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 Lakers KB PE
With the Huarache 2K4 doing so well, Nike tabbed designer Eric Avar to work on the next year’s version of the shoe. The company integrated plenty of technology into this one, including a carbon fiber plate and it was the first basketball shoe to use Nike Free.
Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5
2005 was the last year where Kobe wouldn’t have his own signature with Nike, but he was sure making plenty of ballers want to wear the Huarache 2K5. Players all over hte NBA and NCAA were wearing them and this black and gold colorway was memorably attractive.
Nike Zoom Kobe I
Kobe Bryant got his first Nike signature shoe in 2006, the Nike Zoom Kobe I. The shoe was designed by Ken Link, the sneaker focused on cushioning as Bryant was battling injuries. Kobe was wearing a pair of Kobe I’s when he dropped 81 on the Raptors in 2006.
Nike Zoom Kobe II
This was Kobe Bryant’s second signature shoe with Nike, but it was also the first time that he was directly involved in the design process. The Kobe I was made to be bulkier for more support with the player returning from injury, but the Kobe II was made to be more streamlined.
Nike Zoom Kobe II ST
Kobe Bryant made his first appearance at the Olympics in 2008 and captain the US Mens National Team to the gold medal. This version of the Zoom Kobe II are often referred to as the Olympic and feature a red, white and blue colorway.
Nike Zoom Kobe III
The Kobe III was much more cutting edge, design wise, than the previous two signature models and it has remained among his most popular sneakers. The shoe was on Kobe’s feet during the 2007-2008 season where he won his first and only MVP Award.
Nike Hyperdunk
Kobe Bryant already had three signature shoes with Nike, but he wouldn’t wear any of them during the 2008 Summer Olympics, he would wear Hyperdunks, Nike’s newest innovation. The shoe would be a hit thanks in part to a viral ad when Bryant jumped over an Aston Martin.
Nike Zoom Kobe IV
Born in Italy while his father played pro ball there, Kobe Bryant was a life-long fan of soccer. When helping to design his fourth signature shoe with Nike, was wanted the shoe to be as low and lightweight as possible. This shoe would be a trendsetter as basketball shoes would get much lower.
Nike Zoom Kobe V
So much of Nike’s best technology went into the Kobe V including Flywite to keep the shoes light and Lunarlon cushioning and the sneaker lasted a long, long time. As a result, this is considered by many to be the Mamba’s best performing shoe.
Nike Zoom Kobe VI
The Kobe V was always going to be a tough act to follow and Nike didn’t exactly deliver with the Kobe IV which was thought to be a downgrade. The shoe did inspire some fashion crossover appeal with the Christmas-inspired Grinch colorway.
Nike Zoom Kobe VII
The Kobe signature line had some massive hits, but the brand and player never stopped trying to push things forward as was the case with the Kobe VII. This shoe introduced the system, two interchangeable midsoles that allowed players to model their shoe after their game.
Nike Kobe 8
By this point, the Kobe line has established a tradition of high performance shoes that were also comfortable and attractive. The main changes for this model was adding engineered mesh to the upper which offered more flexibility than previous models.
Nike Kobe 8 System
The Kobe 8 System included many of the things that had made its predecessors successful; a carbon fiber shank, enhanced Lunarlon for cushioning impact, engineered mesh for more flexibility and the system, a feature that allowed wearers to play fast or strong depending on the midsole they inserted.
Nike Kobe 8 Elite
Nike offered the Kobe 8 in Elite style, which was $60 more expensive, but also added elements that made it more durable. The biggest difference came with the engineered mesh which was double woven rather than single woven giving more support.
Nike Kobe 8 SS
The Nike Kobe 8 SS was released in 2013 and the SS stood for shedding skin. The biggest change was the upper which was constructed of scaly snakeskin like material rather than engineered mesh. The overlay on the sneaker was translucent given it a shiny appearance.
Nike Kobe 9 Elite
For several years, Nike and Kobe Bryant were working on lowering the cut of their shoes. There was a radical departure as the Nike Kobe 9 Elite, designed with boxers in mind, had a high cut. There was also a lower cut version available for those who didn’t want a shoe that rode that high.
Nike Kobe 9 Elite Premium
The Kobe 9 Elite Premium was sold at a higher cost, but it sure looked like you were getting your moneys worth. The shoe featured Flyknit and Fuse, and there were also visible carbon fiber panels. The shoe was especially well known for its top-flight traction.
Nike Kobe 9 KRM EXT
The Nike Kobe 9 KRM EXT was first released in a striking Red Mamba colorway. Like many Kobe shoes, it was meant to evoke feelings of a snake as the molded TPU squares were meant to look like the scale of a viper and there were black pops of color on the sole.
Nike Kobe X
While the Kobe 9 was really out of the box, the Kobe 10 was back to a more simple design. The shoe was available in both low and high tops allowing players to choose their preference. Eric Avar and Kobe Bryant designed to shoe to be especially responsive.
Nike Kobe XI
The Nike Kobe XI was the last shoe the superstar would ever play basketball in and hte sneakers displayed all the lessons learned by the Laker and the brand over the years. One of the most important technological advances was the TPU yarns stitched into the shoe creating more stability and structure.
Nike XI Mamba Day ID
Nike wanted to do something special for Kobe Bryant’s final game in the NBA and these limited editions sneakers became available when his final game, on 4/13/16 began. A small quantity were produced and they sell for quite a bit on the second-hand market..
Nike Kobe A.D.
Just because Kobe Bryant’s playing career was over doesn’t mean that the player and Nike weren’t going to continue their thriving partnership and the A.D. was the first shoe released in Kobe’s retirement. The sneakers incudeded Lunarlon and Zoom.
Nike Kobe A.D. 360
Released in 2017, the Nike Kobe A.D. 360 introduced a full 360 degree Flyknit construction that was meant to create a second-like skin feel. With Kobe now out of the league, it was then-Raptors star Demar Derozan who was chosen to debut the shoe.
Nike Kobe A.D. NXT
The Nike Kobe A.D. NXT was released in 2017 and kept pushing technology forward. This specfiic model has a shroud like top that covered the shoe laces. The new technology wasn’t all that well received and was quickly abandoned, but it was an impressive swing.
Kobe A.D. NXT 360
The the next year’s model of the Kobe A.D. didn’t keep the shroud piece from last year’s shoe, but this one had another development, 360 degrees of Flyknit technology. The sneaker also included underfoot, a Lunarlon and React combination to offer more cushioning.
Nike Kobe A.D. NXT FastFit
The most obvious thing you first recognize about the Nike Kobe A.D. NXT FastFit is that the shoe does not have any laces at all. That is because the company used this sneaker to introduce it’s FastFit technology where the shoe can be tightened for a perfect fit.
Nike Kobe A.D. Exodus
The next model of Kobe sneaker, the A.D. Exodus, scrapped the FastFit option instead pulling back to a different kind of sneaker. This model went back to a standard lacing option and focused on fast cuts by focusing on traction and a light weight.