Kobe Bryant’s remarkable influence on the game of basketball also applies to shoe design. Throughout his career, Kobe pushed Nike Basketball to explore the competitive advantages gained by low-profile, highly responsive design. It was an aspirational challenge as much as a technical one.
“Every game I write on my shoe, ‘Be Legendary,’ which is what Kobe drew on my shoe in 2016,” says Devin Booker of Phoenix Suns. ‘He has had an impact on my life that no one has ever had, and probably no one will have again. He taught me to ask myself, ‘What do I do here when I’m not trying to be the best?’ That not only is an offer for basketball. That’s a life sacrifice for me. ”
Booker is far from alone in his admiration for Bryant. From Sabrina Ionescu, guard for the New York Liberty: “The beauty of basketball, to me, is that it’s a sport you can never perfect. What made Kobe great was that he was not afraid to try new things. “Because that risk of failure is where you grow. Kobe tried to perfect everything about his game, from the way he played to the way he approached the game.”
Commemorating his legacy in Nike Basketball and beyond is a seasonal collection of footwear that includes memorable colorways from the Kobe V Protro, alongside a limited edition jersey.
