Nike Has a Blueprint, and They’re Sticking to it

For decades Nike has been at the top of the basketball sneaker game. Wander into any gym and you will see pairs of Nike ball kicks on the court.

If you ask me, the best line of ball kicks that Nike ever created was the Kobe’s. Do you think otherwise? Look at the current roster of sneakers Nike is pushing out right now. Seems that a lot of inspiration has been drawn from Kobe’s of the past. Don’t believe it, just look.

Ja 1

Ja 2

Sabrina 1

Sabrina 2

G.T. Cut 3

Book 1

Giannis Freak 6

These are just a few of the modern-day signature shoe lines that draw heavy inspiration from Kobe’s 4 through 11. The glaring similarity is the low-top silhouette that Kobe popularized through his love for soccer.

Now you’ll be hard-pressed to come across a popular sneaker that isn’t a low top or has a variation of a low top.

Outside of the other signature shoe lines, Kobe’s signature shoes remain popular among players who don’t have a signature shoe. Tune into any NBA game today and you will see a myriad of Kobe’s on the court. Whether it's a pair of player-exclusive kicks (which the likes of Demar Derozan and Devin Booker popularized), or the many protro-re-releases of popular Kobe’s from the past.

At the end of day if it doesn't make money then it doesn't make sense. Just like any other shoe company, Nike is looking for large profits, and the Kobe’s are doing just that.

Can't tell you the number of times I and countless others opened the Nike Snkr app praying to hit on some Kobe’s. More times than not you end up with the message, “Your submission wasn't selected,” a telltale sign that the demand is high. Something about the unattainable draws the eyes of the crowd. That mixed with the aesthetics of the shoes and it’s the perfect money-making situation.

About to be nine years removed from his playing days, and five years removed from his tragic death; Kobe Bryant’s impact is still present. His legacy in tandem with the beauty of the sneakers, it makes sense why we love them so much.

The way his hunger for the game has been passed down to future generations only mirrors how the details of his sneakers have been passed down to future shoe releases.