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"
Kobe 1 "Alternate All-Star"
Kobe 1 "Houston"
Kobe 1 "Alternate MPLS"
Kobe 2 Lite "Blackout"
Kobe 3 "Tile Posite"
Kobe 3 Blue/Red-Gold
Kobe 4 "Hybrid"
Kobe 4 Wear-Test
Kobe 4 "No Flywire"
Kobe 4 "Motherlover"
Kobe 4 "Matador"
Kobe 4 "Kay Yow"
Kobe 4 "Livestrong"
Kobe 4 "China Snake"
Kobe 4 "McFly"
Kobe 5 "Hybrid"
Kobe 5 Wear-Test
Kobe 5 Wear-Test
Kobe 5 "Strap"
Kobe 5 "Strap"
Kobe 5 "Bred"
Kobe 5 "Rice"
Kobe 5 "Wolf Grey"
Kobe 5 "Blackout"
Kobe 5 "Parade"
Kobe 5 "Women's Final Four"
Kobe 6 Wear-Test
Kobe 6 "Lakers"
Kobe 6 "MPLS"
Kobe 6 "Phoenix Mercury"
Kobe 6 "Georgetown"
Kobe 6 "Road"
Kobe 6 "Product Team"
Kobe 7 "Stage Sample"
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Kobe 7 Wear-Test
Kobe 7 "Galaxy"
Kobe 7 "Atlanta Dream"
Kobe 7 Elite "Home"
Kobe 7 Elite White/Purple
Kobe 8 "Last Chapter"
Kobe 8 "Spark"
Kobe 8 "Chicago Sky"
Kobe 8 "Indiana Fever"
Kobe 8 "LA Sparks"
Kobe 8 "Tulsa Shock"
Kobe 8 Grey/Orange
Kobe 8 Orange/Mint-Blue
Kobe 8 "Lakers"
Kobe 8 "Lakers Home"
Kobe 8 SS "Lakers"
Kobe 8 Elite "Del Sol"
Kobe 8 Elite White/Purple
Kobe 8 "BHM"
Kobe 8 "BHM Alternate"
Kobe 9 Wear-Test
Kobe 9 EM Loyal Blue/Varsity Maize-Gym Red
Kobe 9 EM "Atlanta Dream"
Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"
Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"
Kobe 9 Elite Black/Gold-Yellow
Kobe 9 Elite Black/Silver
Kobe 9 Elite "Bruce Lee"
Kobe 9 Elite "Del Sol"
Kobe 9 Elite Grey/Black-Yellow
Kobe 9 Elite "Maleficent"
Kobe 9 Elite "Multicolor Lakers"
Kobe 9 Elite Purple/Black-Yellow Sample
Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Yellow
Kobe 9 Elite Low Yellow/Black
Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Tour Yellow-Dark Grey
Kobe 10 Black/Silver
Kobe 10 Black/Yellow
Kobe 10 Elite Black/Purple
Kobe 10 Elite Low "Lakers"
Kobe 10 Elite Low White/Purple
Kobe 10 Elite High Grey/Black-Yellow
Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers"
Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers Home"
