The End for one of the greatest players to play the game. The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant.
After 20 years, 1,346 games, almost 50,000 minutes played and 33,643 points scored -- Kobe played his final home game for the Purple and Gold against the Utah Jazz. He not only played he went out in typical Black Mamba style dropping 60 points and making the go ahead basket and winning his last and final NBA game.
To pay homage to the greatest player of an era, here's my simple collection of the Kobe signature line from 2005 to 20016
Zoom Kobe 1 - ASG
The first is always special. Although the Huarache 2K4 nad 2K5 were worn by Kobe the previous years, those did not have the "Kobe" mark. Thus, not the "first". These we're on the heavier side compared to the newer ones but it was a "Kobe" signature shoe. Excellent cushioning with dual Zoom Air bags. Flex grooves upfront similar to the 2K5. And a pronounced outrigger to prevent turning of the ankle.
Zoom Kobe 2 - USA
The Kobe 2 was the most interesting as it had 3 versions -- The Strength, The Sheath and The Lite. I had a chance to own all versions of the Zoom Kobe 2 and I have to admit that the Strength was my favorite. It was on the heavier side of the three but it also provided the best comfort when playing. One of the more popular colorway of the Kobe 2 Strength is the Orcas. It sported a Black Patent Leather with White and Purple accents that almost looked like Free Willy. I settled for the USA version of the Zoom Kobe 2 without the patent leather but the same comfort.
Zoom Kobe 3 MVP
The only NBA season that Kobe won an MVP had to be celebrated with a special shoe release. The Zoom Kobe 3 another first of it's kind with a "waffle"design on the upper. But the MVP version was something totally different. It sported a synthetic leather upper still with the waffle design and an MVP logo on the tongue. Only 60 pairs were released by Nike Philippines and I was luck enough to get a pair.
Zoom Kobe 4 Carpe Diem and Lower Merion Aces
This is where the Kobe signature line took a major turn and what a basketball shoe should be like. We were so used to high tops because it provides ankle support and manufacturers really only produced high tops. Then came the Zoom Kobe 4. The first low top basketball shoe that is being endorsed by one of the Superstars of the league. Is he out of his mind?!?!? It released and the rest is history. Oh and it also won Kobe's 4th ring.
Zoom Kobe 5 Big Stage/Five Rings
Nike followed up the ZK4 with another low top and more innovation Flywire was further developed. Lunarlon was adjusted to be firmer and not bottom out. Both Big Stage and Five Rings were not used by Kobe in game. Rather it was released as a "tribute" to the championship year that passed. The Big Stage was worn by Kobe during the Championship Parade and the Five Rings was released prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. Both had laser etching with different career numbers of The Black Mamba.
Zoom Kobe 6 Grinch
Christmas Game Day was becoming a marketing venue for shoe manufacturers. Players would wear their "Christmas Special" shoes for the additional exposure. Kobe and Nike was not to be outdone. After releasing Chaos on Christmas Day the year before the Kobe signature line debuted a cannot-miss-on-the-court volt/black/red colorway of the Kobe 6, The Grinch. With snake scale like upper overlayed on a set of flywire, lunarlon drop-in insole and the now expected TPU heel counter with the Kobe signature adorns this colorway of the Zoom Kobe 6
Zoom Kobe 7 ASG
After failing to win a championship Nike and Kobe looked at more inspiration for the Kobe 7 this time coming from predators in the Animal Kingdom like the Shark, Cheetah, Wolf, Mountain Lion, Poison Dart Frog and a host of other animals that prowls and hunts their prey. The main change in the Kobe VII was the interchangeable insole which you can go from Fast to Strong. The disappointing part for me was how it got heavier (by 3 ounces) and a harder material used for the upper with the Flywire. It took some time before this pair became comfortable to play in.
Zoom Kobe 8 ASG
After that disastrous interchangeable insole and upper, Nike came back with Engineered Mesh in the Kobe 8 with an additional Fuse layer for added support and durability. It was light, breathable and flexible. A full Lunarlon drop-in midsole was used which wraps your foot overtime but also bottomed out with wear and tear. I got the ASG pair because it provided the extra cushioning support with the Air Zoom heel and Lunarlon at the forefoot.
Zoom Kobe 9 Beethovens
After rapturing his achilles in the 8s, the Kobe signature went back to high tops -- and when I say high it was really high. The Kobe 9 reached a couple of inches above the ankle and almost seemed like the shoes were made for Manny Pacquiao. Nike eventually released the low top version with a Flyknit upper to go with it. It was an instant hit and became one of the sought after pairs in the Kobe 9 line.
Zoom Kobe 10 Ying Yang (NikeID)
The 10 is probably behind the 7 as my least liked Kobe signature shoe. Flyknit has become a standard upper for most basketball shoes (KD, LBJ etc.) but the change in the traction was a big disappointment. Although it was good but it wasn't Kobe 9 great. It continued with the Full Lunarlon midsole but introduced a volume Zoom Air heel.
Zoom Kobe 11 FTB
The shoe he wore on his last game, dropping 60 on the Jazz. You can't go out better than that! Part of the the Fade To Black package, the Black with Gold accented FTB 11 will be remembered for that Mamba Moment game and probably will be one of the most expensive Kobe pairs. Nike went back to the Air Zoom on the heel and Lunarlon forefoot combo in the 11s. Flyknit also go better with threaded TPU strands to give the upper more support but retain the flexibilty of Flyknit. Inscribed at the heel of the FTB 11 is the date "4.13.16", the last day The Black Mamba plays in the NBA.
Nike recently confirmed that the Kobe line will continue with the Kobe 12 set to release during the start of the 2016-17 season. Kobe may be out of the NBA but his performance shoe will always be in the conversation.
After 20 years, 1,346 games, almost 50,000 minutes played and 33,643 points scored -- Kobe played his final home game for the Purple and Gold against the Utah Jazz. He not only played he went out in typical Black Mamba style dropping 60 points and making the go ahead basket and winning his last and final NBA game.
To pay homage to the greatest player of an era, here's my simple collection of the Kobe signature line from 2005 to 20016
Zoom Kobe 1 - ASG
The first is always special. Although the Huarache 2K4 nad 2K5 were worn by Kobe the previous years, those did not have the "Kobe" mark. Thus, not the "first". These we're on the heavier side compared to the newer ones but it was a "Kobe" signature shoe. Excellent cushioning with dual Zoom Air bags. Flex grooves upfront similar to the 2K5. And a pronounced outrigger to prevent turning of the ankle.
Zoom Kobe 2 - USA
The Kobe 2 was the most interesting as it had 3 versions -- The Strength, The Sheath and The Lite. I had a chance to own all versions of the Zoom Kobe 2 and I have to admit that the Strength was my favorite. It was on the heavier side of the three but it also provided the best comfort when playing. One of the more popular colorway of the Kobe 2 Strength is the Orcas. It sported a Black Patent Leather with White and Purple accents that almost looked like Free Willy. I settled for the USA version of the Zoom Kobe 2 without the patent leather but the same comfort.
Zoom Kobe 3 MVP
The only NBA season that Kobe won an MVP had to be celebrated with a special shoe release. The Zoom Kobe 3 another first of it's kind with a "waffle"design on the upper. But the MVP version was something totally different. It sported a synthetic leather upper still with the waffle design and an MVP logo on the tongue. Only 60 pairs were released by Nike Philippines and I was luck enough to get a pair.
Zoom Kobe 4 Carpe Diem and Lower Merion Aces
This is where the Kobe signature line took a major turn and what a basketball shoe should be like. We were so used to high tops because it provides ankle support and manufacturers really only produced high tops. Then came the Zoom Kobe 4. The first low top basketball shoe that is being endorsed by one of the Superstars of the league. Is he out of his mind?!?!? It released and the rest is history. Oh and it also won Kobe's 4th ring.
Zoom Kobe 5 Big Stage/Five Rings
Nike followed up the ZK4 with another low top and more innovation Flywire was further developed. Lunarlon was adjusted to be firmer and not bottom out. Both Big Stage and Five Rings were not used by Kobe in game. Rather it was released as a "tribute" to the championship year that passed. The Big Stage was worn by Kobe during the Championship Parade and the Five Rings was released prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. Both had laser etching with different career numbers of The Black Mamba.
Zoom Kobe 6 Grinch
Christmas Game Day was becoming a marketing venue for shoe manufacturers. Players would wear their "Christmas Special" shoes for the additional exposure. Kobe and Nike was not to be outdone. After releasing Chaos on Christmas Day the year before the Kobe signature line debuted a cannot-miss-on-the-court volt/black/red colorway of the Kobe 6, The Grinch. With snake scale like upper overlayed on a set of flywire, lunarlon drop-in insole and the now expected TPU heel counter with the Kobe signature adorns this colorway of the Zoom Kobe 6
Zoom Kobe 7 ASG
After failing to win a championship Nike and Kobe looked at more inspiration for the Kobe 7 this time coming from predators in the Animal Kingdom like the Shark, Cheetah, Wolf, Mountain Lion, Poison Dart Frog and a host of other animals that prowls and hunts their prey. The main change in the Kobe VII was the interchangeable insole which you can go from Fast to Strong. The disappointing part for me was how it got heavier (by 3 ounces) and a harder material used for the upper with the Flywire. It took some time before this pair became comfortable to play in.
Zoom Kobe 8 ASG
After that disastrous interchangeable insole and upper, Nike came back with Engineered Mesh in the Kobe 8 with an additional Fuse layer for added support and durability. It was light, breathable and flexible. A full Lunarlon drop-in midsole was used which wraps your foot overtime but also bottomed out with wear and tear. I got the ASG pair because it provided the extra cushioning support with the Air Zoom heel and Lunarlon at the forefoot.
Zoom Kobe 9 Beethovens
After rapturing his achilles in the 8s, the Kobe signature went back to high tops -- and when I say high it was really high. The Kobe 9 reached a couple of inches above the ankle and almost seemed like the shoes were made for Manny Pacquiao. Nike eventually released the low top version with a Flyknit upper to go with it. It was an instant hit and became one of the sought after pairs in the Kobe 9 line.
Zoom Kobe 10 Ying Yang (NikeID)
The 10 is probably behind the 7 as my least liked Kobe signature shoe. Flyknit has become a standard upper for most basketball shoes (KD, LBJ etc.) but the change in the traction was a big disappointment. Although it was good but it wasn't Kobe 9 great. It continued with the Full Lunarlon midsole but introduced a volume Zoom Air heel.
Zoom Kobe 11 FTB
The shoe he wore on his last game, dropping 60 on the Jazz. You can't go out better than that! Part of the the Fade To Black package, the Black with Gold accented FTB 11 will be remembered for that Mamba Moment game and probably will be one of the most expensive Kobe pairs. Nike went back to the Air Zoom on the heel and Lunarlon forefoot combo in the 11s. Flyknit also go better with threaded TPU strands to give the upper more support but retain the flexibilty of Flyknit. Inscribed at the heel of the FTB 11 is the date "4.13.16", the last day The Black Mamba plays in the NBA.
Nike recently confirmed that the Kobe line will continue with the Kobe 12 set to release during the start of the 2016-17 season. Kobe may be out of the NBA but his performance shoe will always be in the conversation.
