With Kobe Bryant's playing days limited, it looks like Nike is starting to makes some transitions in how they market his signature sneakers. One of the most noticeable changes is the size runs in which they are choosing to make his sneakers in. There have been no GS sizes released, and the Kobe XI was left out of the newly launched "Court Motion" pack for kids.
It's understandable to assume that children now favor younger stars like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron James, and this is apparent in Nike's release strategy. Another point worth noting is the one Nike Basketball Design Director Leo Chang recently made to Nice Kicks about Irving's sneakers picking up where Bryant's will leave off. ""KD is in the middle, with the Dynamic Versatility. Explosive Power is of course LeBron, and Kobe at his pinnacle has really exemplified Electric Quickness. We felt like, 'Well, Kobe is going to retire, and obviously his game is very different now,'" Chang said. With how incredible his career has been, and the popularity of his signature sneakers, we're sure Nike won't have any problem marketing Kobes, but it just won't be to kids as much.
