Tag Archives: Kobe Bryant

Nike Honors Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gigi with ‘Girl Dad’ and ‘Halo’ Protro Sneakers

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Nike is honoring Kobe Bryant’s legacy with a series of new sneaker releases that celebrate his life, achievements, and special bond with his daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. This fall, Nike will introduce two new sneaker collections that resonate with fans and sneaker enthusiasts, highlighting Kobe’s impact on and off the basketball court.

Designer: Nike

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro Low ‘Halo’ @lasbestkicks

First, Nike is set to release the all-white Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro sneakers, continuing the popular “Halo” theme introduced in 2023. This year, the Flyknit-based sneaker will be available in its original high-top build and the Kobe 9 Elite Low variation. These sneakers mark the first time the Nike Kobe 9 Elite, initially launched in 2014, will be offered in its Protro retro form. Previously, the only rerelease of the Kobe 9 Elite was part of the 2016 “Fade to Black” collection, which did not feature the Protro enhancements.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

The Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Halo” features nearly all-white uppers, with black carbon fiber shanks at the midsole providing contrast. The sneakers utilize full Flyknit uppers, a design trend common in Nike’s performance sneakers from the 2010s. The high-top version includes a glossy TPU Swoosh and a tonal repeating print of the Kobe logo, while the Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro features an iridescent Swoosh. The Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Halo” will be released on Aug. 23, Kobe’s 46th birthday, at a retail price of $240, followed by the Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro “Halo” on Sept. 19, priced at $210.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

In June, Nike released the “Girl Dad” sneakers, honoring the special bond between Kobe and his daughter Gigi. This special edition of the Kobe 4 Protro was inspired by a memorable courtside moment shared between Kobe and Gigi. The sneakers featured a striking green color, black shoelaces, the words “Girl Dad” printed on the inner tongue, and Kobe Bryant’s signature on the side. The design was completed with a total orange insole, reflecting Kobe’s support for women’s basketball and the WNBA hoodie he famously wore. The “Girl Dad” sneakers quickly sold out, showing fans’ strong connection with Kobe and Gigi’s legacy.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

Nike highlights the sneaker’s premium materials, including a chrome heel clip, metallic silver branding, and an icy outsole, adding elegance to the design. The Kobe 4 Protro has been retooled for enhanced performance, featuring Nike’s Zoom cushioning technology and a springy foam midsole that houses Zoom Air in the heel for extra bounce, perfect for a spirited dad-versus-daughter basketball showdown.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

Vanessa Bryant shared the release news on Instagram, celebrating the shoes as a tribute to Kobe’s commitment and love for their daughters Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. She wrote, “For our Most Valuable Girl Dad. This Father’s Day, we celebrate Kobe’s commitment and love for our daughters with the Kobe 4 Protro ‘Girl Dad.'”

Special Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” sneakers in honor of the late Kobe Bryant and his late daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.

These sneaker releases are more than just shoes—they’re heartfelt tributes to love, family, and legacy. They let fans celebrate and keep Kobe’s memory alive in a meaningful way.

The post Nike Honors Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gigi with ‘Girl Dad’ and ‘Halo’ Protro Sneakers first appeared on Yanko Design.

‘Kobe Bryant Tribute Edition’ of the Viper Watch pays homage to the Black Mamba on his 2nd death anniversary

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Created as a tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant on the 2nd anniversary of his passing, the Black Mamba edition of the Viper Watch sports a black design as a hat-tip to Kobe’s nickname, the Black Mamba, against a purple background, representing the color of the LA Lakers. The watch even has a hovering black reptile above the dial, with the words Mamba Is Back inscribed underneath.

The Viper Watch has a serpent wrapped around its dial, hovering immediately above the shimmering diamond embedded in the watch’s center. Designed by Salvo Lo Cascio along with Fabrizio Torchia of Maecenas Studio, the watch comes encased in a gold-and-black coated 316L stainless steel body, sandwiched between sapphire crystals on the front as well as on the exhibition back. The watch’s dial comes fabricated from aluminum with a coat of shimmering purple paint which contrasts beautifully against the rose gold hands, numbers, indexes, and a beautifully ornate viper that instantly draws your eye to the watch’s magnum opus, the exquisite gemstone located at its center.

The 12-hour watch features a single hand movement that points at each hour while also giving you a sense of the minutes simply based on its location between two numerals on the dial. The idea, Salvo implies, is to focus more on the watch’s sheer artistic appeal than on purely accurate chronometry. Underneath the dial sits the Viper Watch’s ETA 6497 movement, which Salvo modified with skeletonized gears that are visible through the watch’s exhibition back. As another hat-tip to its reptilian inspiration, the Viper Watch comes with leather straps too, although snake leather would probably really hit the mark. (I’m more of an animal-friendly faux leather person myself, if I’m being entirely honest)

The Black Mamba-edition Viper Watch exists only as a concept right now, although I’m sure Salvo could produce a few units if there’s enough interest from willing buyers. You can follow Salvo Lo Cascio’s work on Instagram and contact him for more information.

The post ‘Kobe Bryant Tribute Edition’ of the Viper Watch pays homage to the Black Mamba on his 2nd death anniversary first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remembering Kobe Bryant and his iconic sneaker collaboration with Nike

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It’s around this time last year that the world woke up to the shocking news that Kobe Bryant had passed on. A legend in the basketball world, Kobe was often referred to as the Black Mamba for his stealthy style and powerful strike… a distinction that even made it into his sneaker collaboration with Nike over the Nike x Kobe ‘Fade To Black’ series.

Today, on the anniversary of his passing, we look at one of the most memorable sneakers from the collaboration, the Nike Zoom Kobe 3 “FTB”. The sneakers come encased in a box that sports the scales of a snake, pointing directly at the Mamba reference. Underneath the box lid are two white shoes that would complement Kobe’s black uniform beautifully, and a reverse diamond 3D texture that has an incredible allure when looked at against direct light. The texture continues on the entire upper surface of the shoe, making it even to the sole, with only a hint of a black panel at the base, paying tribute to the Black Mamba. The shoes, which are available in white and metallic grey, debuted in 2016 around Kobe’s retirement. One would argue that they look just as incredible even today!

Designers: Nike in collaboration with Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant On Los Angeles Lakers Making Playoffs: ‘Of Course It Can’

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Kobe Bryant believes his Los Angeles Lakers can make the playoffs. Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears spoke with Bryant in an exclusive phone interview on Aug. 4. The Lakers superstar is confident...

Kobe Bryant Hangs Out at FC Barcelona Practice In Los Angeles

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Make no mistake about it, Kobe Bryant is one staunch supporter of FC Barcelona. According to Jaime Casas of FC Barcelona's official website, Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard was at...

Kobe Bryant Uncertain About Retirement Plans

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Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Kobe Bryant is still uncertain about his retirement plans from the NBA. According to a June 28 update from ESPN Los Angeles' Baxter Holmes, Bryant is still...

Kobe Bryant Surpasses Michael Jordan for 3rd in NBA’s All-Time Scoring List

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Kobe Bryant is now the NBA's third all-time leading scorer.Bryant scored 26 points in the Los Angeles Laker's 100-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 14. He now has 33,210 for his career,...

Elbow causes Kobe, Dwight tussle

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Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott was quite right when he was asked about Tuesday's fourth-quarter skirmish between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard to which he responded "They don't like each other...