The History of Kobe Bryant Shoes

Kobe Bean Bryant was an all-time basketball legend and a cultural force. Five-time NBA champ, two-time Team USA Olympic gold medalist, Redeem Team member and 18-time All-Star NBA player. But stats only scratch the surface. 

While his fadeaways and footwork inspired hoopers everywhere, Kobe’s impact went way beyond basketball. After retiring, he poured his energy into storytelling and mentoring athletes. He won an Oscar for his short film Dear Basketball. Through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, he supported underserved youth in sports and pushed for equal opportunities for girls, especially after coaching his daughter Gianna’s team became part of his daily life.

Kobe’s early death in a helicopter crash in 2020 at age 41 didn’t erase his legacy as a player, a human or a basketball sneaker legend. Today, Kobe shoes are as popular as ever. When you wear them, you’re stepping into something bigger than basketball, it's sneaker history.

Why was Kobe Bryant nicknamed “Black Mamba”?

Kobe gave himself the nickname Black Mamba during one of the hardest stretches of his life, around 2003 to 2004, when he was facing serious off-court issues and fighting to keep his game sharp on the court. The name came from the deadly snake, known for its speed, precision and ability to strike without warning. Kobe saw that as the perfect symbol for the player he wanted to be: cold, focused and unstoppable when it was time to compete.

He literally picked the name after watching Kill Bill, where the Black Mamba was a code name for a fierce assassin. He liked how the character moved: smooth, efficient, deadly. That’s how Kobe wanted to move on the court.

Eventually, the Mamba Mentality became a whole mindset: striving to be better than you were yesterday, no excuses, just work. He passed that on to young athletes, fans, and even people who weren’t into basketball at all.

The early Adidas era: Pre-Nike days

Before the Nike deal, before the Mamba nickname even stuck, Kobe Bryant started his sneaker story with Adidas. He signed with them straight out of high school in 1996, right when he entered the league as a 17-year-old phenom. Adidas saw the potential early and gave him a full-on sneaker deal before he had even dribbled in the NBA.

His first big signature shoe was the Adidas KB8, which dropped in 1997. That one’s better known today as the Crazy 8. It had a chunky ‘90s build, bold lines, and was all about that futuristic basketball energy. People loved it at the time, and it’s still got nostalgic heat with collectors and boutique shopping regulars who dig retro basketball kicks.

Adidas followed up with other Kobe silhouettes like the KB8 II and eventually the Adidas The Kobe, a super minimal shoe that looked more like a piece of tech than something you’d hoop in. Inspired by Audi design (yes, the car), it had a slick, silver vibe but didn’t really land with sneakerheads, it was too out there, even for the early 2000s.

By 2002, Kobe bought out the remainder of his Adidas contract. For a year, he rocked Jordans, Reeboks, and other brands while figuring out his next move.

Nike and Kobe: The Kobe 1–11 run

When Kobe signed with Nike in 2003, he was already one of the best in the league, and this deal gave him creative freedom. The Nike Zoom Kobe 1 dropped in 2006 as a performance shoe. Kobe was involved in the design and didn’t want bricks on his feet: he wanted shoes that were low, light and lethal, just like his game. The real turning point came with the Kobe 4 in 2009. That’s the one that made low-top basketball shoes actually cool and proved that low tops didn't mean less support for players.

The Nike Kobe line had 11 numbered signature models. Every sneaker in that lineup was made while Kobe was still actively playing (except for the 11, which dropped during his retirement year).

·      Kobe 1 – released 2006

·      Kobe 2 – 2007

·      Kobe 3 – 2008

·      Kobe 4 – 2009 

·      Kobe 5 – 2010 

·      Kobe 6 – 2010 

·      Kobe 7 – 2011

·      Kobe 8 – 2012

·      Kobe 9 – 2014 

·      Kobe 10 – 2015

·      Kobe 11 – 2016

Through all 11 numbered models, Kobe was hands-on. He worked with Nike designers on everything: from weight to traction to materials.

The Kobe Protro series

The Protro series was born in 2016 after Kobe retired, he stayed very much in the picture, setting the vision and working with the design team.

Protro stands for “performance retro”, and it came straight from Kobe’s mindset. The idea was to take his classic models and upgrade them with modern tech, so they look the same but feel even better on the court.

Highlights in the Kobe Protro lineup:

·      Kobe 1 Protro:2018

·      Kobe 4 Protro: 2019

·      Kobe 5 Protro: 2020. (Released just before Kobe’s passing)

Life after Kobe: Sneaker releases that kept the legacy alive

After Kobe passed in January 2020, the sneaker world paused. Every pair felt heavier. Every colorway hit harder. Nike quietly stopped releasing Kobe shoes for over a year while fans, players, and the brand figured out how to move forward with something so personal.

In 2021, Kobe’s deal with Nike ended. For a while, it looked like his line might be done for good. But in March 2022, Vanessa Bryant (Kobe’s wife) and Nike came to an agreement to continue releasing Kobe products, including special pairs honoring his daughter Gianna “Gigi” who passed away in the same helicopter crash. Like the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16”, which dropped on what would’ve been her 16th birthday. All proceeds went to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Since then, we’ve seen a wave of new drops:

·      Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch” restock (2021)

·      Kobe 4 Protro “Mambacita” and “Black Mamba” editions

·      Kobe 6 Protro “Dodgers” (2025)

·      The “Halo” series

Nike’s slowly bringing back fan-favorites and unreleased colorways, always wrapped in emotion. Some drops are limited, some tied to “Mamba Day” which is celebrated on August 24 (8/24) every year to honor Kobe’s legacy. The date is a nod to the two jersey numbers he wore during his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers: #8 and #24. The NBA officially recognized Mamba Day after Kobe retired in 2016, and since then, it’s grown into a global celebration for fans, players, and sneakerheads.

Style guide: How people wear Kobe shoes today

A Kobe shoe isn't just built for performance, it's built to move and to live. You’ll find these kicks in clothing stores in Aurora, particularly with us at Notorious Lifestyle. If we don’t have them in stock, we can help you to find them.

These shoes are great with:

·      Athletic wear like mesh shorts, team tees, or track jackets

·      Outdoor clothing like puffer vests, cargo pants and techy layers for that street-meets-function vibe

·      Everyday fits: cuffed denim, relaxed hoodies, and graphic tees from your go-to boutique clothing shop

If you're looking for a popular signature sneaker, go for the Kobe 6 Protro “Dodgers” and anything in a clean “Halo” colorway. People also love the kobe 8 system. You can expect such a Kobe sneaker to go for over $1000 in the resale market. The textures, like the snakeskin upper on the 6s add just enough edge to make your outfit pop without doing too much.

More sneaker history

If you're looking to know more about sneaker history and legacy, read our blogs about LeBron James shoes, Kanye West's Yeezy saga, and how Michael Jordan transformed the world of sneakers and sports.  For the latest sneaker news, check out our sneaker releases blog.