Kobe Bryant will soon call it a career, but he recently told us that he and Nike plan to continue making signature models post-retirement. Though his Nike line didn't launch until 2006, Kobe put together his Hall of Fame career in a series of sneakers that have revolutionized basketball footwear in terms of both performance and design.
For the game's ultimate perfectionist, finding the right look and feel in a sneaker can be an intricate process. So it's no surprise that several pairs of Nike Kobes didn't quite make it to retail. Here's a rundown of 81 samples that, for one reason or another, were never available to buy.
Kobe Bryant will soon call it a career, but he recently told us that he and Nike plan to continue making signature models post-retirement. Though his Nike line didn't launch until 2006, Kobe put together his Hall of Fame career in a series of sneakers that have revolutionized basketball footwear in terms of both performance and design.
For the game's ultimate perfectionist, finding the right look and feel in a sneaker can be an intricate process. So it's no surprise that several pairs of Nike Kobes didn't quite make it to retail. Here's a rundown of 81 samples that, for one reason or another, were never available to buy.
Kobe 1 "All-Star"
Year: 2006
Kobe 1 "Alternate All-Star"
Year: 2006
Kobe 1 "Houston"
Year: 2006
Kobe 1 "Alternate MPLS"
Year: 2006
Kobe 2 Lite "Blackout"
Year: 2007
Kobe 3 "Tile Posite"
Year: 2008
Kobe 3 Blue/Red-Gold
Year: 2008
Kobe 4 "Hybrid"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 Wear-Test
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "No Flywire"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "Motherlover"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "Matador"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "Kay Yow"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "Livestrong"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "China Snake"
Year: 2009
Kobe 4 "McFly"
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 "Hybrid"
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 Wear-Test
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 Wear-Test
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 "Strap"
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 "Strap"
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 "Bred"
Year: 2009
Kobe 5 "Rice"
Year: 2010
Kobe 5 "Wolf Grey"
Year: 2010
Kobe 5 "Blackout"
Year: 2010
Kobe 5 "Parade"
Year: 2010
Kobe 5 "Women's Final Four"
Year: 2010
Kobe 6 Wear-Test
Year: 2010
Kobe 6 "Lakers"
Year: 2011
Kobe 6 "MPLS"
Year: 2011
Kobe 6 "Phoenix Mercury"
Year: 2011
Kobe 6 "Georgetown"
Year: 2011
Kobe 6 "Road"
Year: 2011
Kobe 6 "Product Team"
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 "Stage Sample"
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 "Galaxy"
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 "Atlanta Dream"
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 Elite "Home"
Year: 2011
Kobe 7 Elite White/Purple
Year: 2012
Kobe 8 "Last Chapter"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Spark"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Chicago Sky"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Indiana Fever"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "LA Sparks"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Tulsa Shock"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 Grey/Orange
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 Orange/Mint-Blue
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Lakers"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "Lakers Home"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 SS "Lakers"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 Elite "Del Sol"
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 Elite White/Purple
Year: 2013
Kobe 8 "BHM"
Year: 2014
Kobe 8 "BHM Alternate"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Wear-Test
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 EM Loyal Blue/Varsity Maize-Gym Red
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 EM "Atlanta Dream"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Black/Gold-Yellow
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Black/Silver
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite "Bruce Lee"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite "Del Sol"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Grey/Black-Yellow
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite "Maleficent"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite "Multicolor Lakers"
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Purple/Black-Yellow Sample
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Yellow
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Low Yellow/Black
Year: 2014
Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Tour Yellow-Dark Grey
Year: 2014
Kobe 10 Black/Silver
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Black/Yellow
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite Black/Purple
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite Low "Lakers"
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite Low White/Purple
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite High Grey/Black-Yellow
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers"
Year: 2015
Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers Home"
Year: 2015