Kobe Bryant’s Legacy Lives on as Nike Announces the Return of the Kobe Brand

The tragic passing of the legendary Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and the helicopter crew in 2020 sent shockwaves through the world. As fans mourned the loss of the basketball icon, there was an unprecedented surge in demand for his sneakers.

Finding a pair of Kobe sneakers at a reasonable price became nearly impossible. The overwhelming response even led Nike to consider halting production of the sneakers and other branded articles.

However, a recent development has brought immense joy to fans of the Black Mamba. Nike has just announced that they are bringing back the Kobe brand into production, with a portion of the proceeds going to Kobe’s family, including his wife Vanessa Bryant and their three remaining daughters.

This news is sure to delight Kobe’s devoted fans who still yearn to own a piece of his legacy. Resellers, on the other hand, may not be as thrilled, as the value of Kobe sneakers is expected to decline once new models hit the market.

But when can we expect the triumphant return of the Kobe brand?

According to Nike CEO John Donahoe, the plan is to relaunch the brand on August 23, a day before Kobe Day, which falls on August 24. This date holds special significance as it represents the two jersey numbers Kobe wore throughout his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
With this strategic move, Nike aims to pay homage to the late basketball icon and capture the same level of success achieved by the Jordan Brand.

Since the discontinuation of the official signature line with the Nike Kobe 11, older models continued to be released by Nike.

However, the plan now is to bring the Kobe 12 to the market and continue producing new models indefinitely. Among the most sought-after designs are the Kobe 8, Kobe 10, and the Kobe Protro series.

Notably, the Kobe 6 ‘Reverse Grinch’ stands out as the most popular Kobe sneaker among fans. The return of the Kobe brand is undoubtedly one of the most exciting pieces of news in both sneaker culture and the NBA community, serving as a testament to the lasting impact and influence of Kobe Bryant’s legacy.