Happy Birthday to NBA Superstar Kobe Bryant, as he turns 34 today. As we approach the release of the Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Cheetah Print” this Saturday, we take time to reflect on the past year and all the grounds Kobe’s seventh signature model broke. Introduced as a “system,” the Black Mamba has always pushed to differentiate his signature from the rest with the latest technology and innovation. Coming off a plethora of great Kobe VI colorways, the Kobe VII undoubtedly picked up where Kobe’s sixth shoe left off. Here are our Top 20 colorways of the Nike Zoom Kobe VII.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n What would a Top 20 Kobe VIIs list be without its original colorway? The “<\/em>Del Sol“<\/em> look has been featured on Kobe signatures for years and was the first Kobe VII to release late last year. It was also one of the first colorways to introduce us to the new feature the Kobe VII would embody, the inner-changeable attack fast and attack strong inserts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Wolf” released back in March as one of the many Kobe VIIs with an animal inspired theme. Simple, yet unique, this model features an upper composed of mostly wolf grey with total orange accents on the swoosh, heel, and tongue branding. As Kobe would ask, “Are you a different animal, and the same beast?”<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Continuing with the animal inspired models, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII ?Poison Dart Frog” Photo Blue\/Team Orange was one of three colorways to embody the peculiar print. Known for its infamous aposematic pattern, which warns its predators about its level of danger, the Dart Frog is one of the creatures that exemplifies Kobe’s on court presence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n This year, Kobe wore an assortment of different Kobe VII colorways on court, and the Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Home” was definitely one that caught some attention. Featuring a clean approach with its all-white base and exposed gold Flywire, this court-ready colorway brings the Lakers colors full circle with an imperial purple swoosh and sock liner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n As part of Nike Basketball’s “Easter-themed” collection this year, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII Poison Dart Frog “Mint” featured a festive mint candy makeup applied to the Dart Frog arrangement. Certainly the more subtle of the bunch (<\/em>Nike Zoom KD IV, Nike LeBron 9)<\/em>, the Kobe VII Dart Frog Mint is the perfect solution for the baller wanting to express some holiday spirit on court.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Produced to outfit the high school in which Bryant led to a State Championship in 1996, the Lower Merion colorway is one of the most anticipated each year. Dressed in a spirited Team Red color, this shoe is accented with Metallic Silver speckled laces, and an “Ace” logo on the heel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Lower Merion wasn’t the only high school to be outfitted in the Nike Zoom Kobe VII. Los Angles’ Westchester, home of the Comets, received their very own edition of the beloved silhouette. The basketball powerhouse was presented with Home and Away editions of the Kobe VII with in a black, white, and team red makeup with “Westchester” branding the heel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n “It’s a lot different swimming with Great White’s, than it is seeing them on the Discovery Channel.” – <\/em>Kobe Bryant<\/p>\n The above quote was stated by Kobe Bryant while playing Cory McClanahan in a game of 1-on-1 for Lakers season tickets. Like the Poison Dart Frog, Bryant’s game encompasses shark-like attributes. This model features a treasure blue upper with print resembling an oceanic atmosphere. It is also capped off with a symbolic shark logo on the heel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n One of five in the Nike Basketball “Fireberry” Collection, this sneaker features a predominantly Cool Grey upper with Thunder Blue and Fireberry detailing. This color scheme fused with the Kobe VII silhouette made this one of the hottest summer basketball shoes to release this year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n What do you do to enhance the year’s most worn performance basketball signature? Make it Elite. Receiving upgrades such as full-length Zoom Air cushioning, Kevlar-based Flywire, and Carbon Fiber detailing, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII Elite has become the ideal on court choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Kobe Bryant portrays an immense amount of enchantment on court while playing, so why not infuse those same majestic characteristics in his shoes? Garnering its name, “Invisible Cloak,” from its iridescent upper that lingers between both court purple and turquoise blue, the Kobe VII “Invisible Cloak” is definitely one the more eye-catching colorways to release this year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Redesigned with the same upgrades the Nike Zoom Kobe VII Elite “Away” received, this “Home” version caught more attention due to its clean white-scaled upper. It served as the perfect foundation for an accented gold swoosh and ice blue bottom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The USA Men’s Basketball team was in full stride this summer as they dominated Olympic competition on their way to a second straight gold medal. To commemorate those achievements, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII “USA” received a minor yet adored makeover with gold applied on the swoosh, tongue branding, and the heel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Nike’s Black History Month Collection this year was one of, if not the best we’ve seen thus far. The Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Black History Month” took on an upper composed mostly of geometrical tribal print, and midnight fog. The tribal print can also be seen on the sock liner and through its translucent icy sole.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n With all the talk revolving around the Nike Zoom KD IV “Year of The Dragon,” the Kobe VII “Year of The Dragon” flew under a lot of people’s radar. Constructed of a vibrant Action Red upper, accompanied by Electrolime and Lush teal, the Kobe VII YOTD perfectly embodied the feel of the Chinese’s zodiac cycle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Level 1 of the #KOBESYSTEM teaches us success, and there is no doubt Nike was highly successful with the release of the first Kobe VII “Cheetah” last December (we’ll get to that in a moment). They’ll be just as successful when the Kobe VII “Cheetah Print” drops this Saturday. Dressed in cheetah print once again, Saturday’s release features an orange, black, and silver makeup for a much tamer version than the ones unleashed last Christmas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n During All-Star weekend, the Nike Basketball “Galaxy” Collection set headlines ablaze with a plethora of memorable sneakers featuring glow-in-the-dark elements. Right in that mix was the Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Galaxy.” While many rejoiced over the shoes intergalactic themed upper, the shoe’s main attraction was definitely the glow-in-the-dark sole.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Kobe Bryant’s love for the football club FC Barcelona is expressed here as the Nike Zoom Kobe VII was produced in two different colorways resembling former FC Barcelona kits. Unfortunately, you would’ve had to be across the pond to score a pair of these European exclusives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n For sure the most unique colorway of the Nike Zoom Kobe VII you’ll see, the “What the Kobe” is a combination of all the animals that were featured on the Kobe VIIs. The ?Poison Dart Frog?, ?Shark?, ?Wolf?, and ?Cheetah? can be spotted throughout this shoe stamping it as the ultimate Kobe VII.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n19. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Wolf”<\/h3>\n
18. Nike Zoom Kobe VII ?Poison Dart Frog” Photo Blue\/Team Orange<\/h3>\n
17. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Home”<\/h3>\n
16. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Poison Dart Frog “Mint”<\/h3>\n
15. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Lower Merion”<\/h3>\n
14. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Supreme Westchester “Home & Away”<\/h3>\n
13. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Shark”<\/h3>\n
12. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Fireberry”<\/h3>\n
11. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Elite “Away”<\/h3>\n
10. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Invisibility Cloak”<\/h3>\n
9. Nike Zoom Kobe VII Elite “Home”<\/h3>\n
8. Nike Zoom Kobe VII USA “Gold Swoosh”<\/h3>\n
7. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Black History Month”<\/h3>\n
6. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Year of The Dragon”<\/h3>\n
5. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Cheetah Print”<\/h3>\n
4. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Galaxy”<\/h3>\n
3. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “FC Barcelona Pack”<\/h3>\n
2. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “What The Kobe”<\/h3>\n
1. Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Cheetah”<\/h3>\n