Kobe Bryant debuted his latest signature sneakers on Wednesday. I like the new kicks! Kobe thinks they are industry changers & spoke with ESPN about the symbolism and meaning behind the new shoes. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reactions on them —- check it out & let us know what you think…
*PHOTOS ABOVE IN GALLERY*
Via ESPN:
…Bryant’s last five signature shoes have been low-tops, the Kobe Elite 9 unveiled by the Los Angeles Lakers guard is a higher-cut shoe that might be confused with a pair that a wrestler wears. The feature that sticks out the most might be in the back, where nine short red lines are spread out along the heel to mimic the sutures from his recent Achilles surgery.
“It’s a symbol of the story we’re trying to tell,” Bryant told ESPN.com. “It’s a constant reminder of where I came from. From that night after I hurt myself and I expressed my anger in my Facebook rant to the state I’m in now. I wanted something I could draw inspiration from. Everyone doubts I can’t come back and do it again and here I am.”
While there has been speculation Bryant would come back for the first time this week, he didn’t commit to a date on Wednesday.
Sneaker fans on social media seemed to love or hate the shoe, something that doesn’t come as a surprise to Bryant, who has always been a polarizing figure.
“You have to move the needle,” Bryant said. “You want people to [behave] that way. You want them to have an emotional reaction as soon as they see it. You want it to create conversation and debate and challenge how people think.”
The shoe is the first basketball shoe that uses Nike’s FlyKnit technology, which allows the brand to make the entire upper part of the shoe in one piece. Not only does it make it cheaper to make the shoe, by reducing waste and labor, but it also makes the shoe lighter and feel more connected, Bryant said.
“I’ve always challenged Nike to build me something that conforms to my foot,” Bryant said. “That is literally one with your foot. FlyKnit does that remarkably well and keeps the weight to an absolute minimum.”
The Kobe Elite 9 hits store on Feb. 8, 2014, at a cost of $225.
