{"id":432283,"date":"2015-02-12T13:36:03","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T18:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=432283"},"modified":"2022-09-17T13:40:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-17T18:40:35","slug":"kobe-chronicles-nike-zoom-kobe-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/kobe-chronicles-nike-zoom-kobe-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Kobe Chronicles: Nike Zoom Kobe II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thursday marks the fourth installment of the Kobe Chronicles<\/strong> in which we document some of Kobe’s illustrious NBA All-Star game moments. As we cross the decade point in Mr.Bryant’s career within the Kobe Chronicles, we take things back to the 2007 NBA All-Star game in Sin City, as the Black Mamba secured MVP honors in his second signature model with Nike, the Nike Zoom Kobe II<\/strong>. To get the detailed account of the era in question, flip through the pages below and let us know in the comments section your thoughts on this latest edition of the #KobeChronicles.<\/p>\n

Sneaker Free Agency<\/h2>\n

After a six year run with adidas that saw Bryant receive his very own signature line as well as capture three NBA titles, Mr.Bryant became a “free agent” of sorts, as he spent the 2002-2003 campaign as a sneaker free agent<\/em>, donning a variety of different models ranging from notable Air Jordan PEs to Iverson signatures. Bryant would eventually find his way to Nike as the stellar guard would help lead the charge and usher in a new wave of Nike Basketball products.<\/p>\n

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Death of A Dynasty<\/h2>\n

After years of bickering amongst their two largest stars, the Los Angeles Lakers seemed destined to witness their dynasty dissolve\u00a0due to the larger than life personalities of Shaq and Kobe and the proverbial tug of war for reign of the team. While those internal circumstances are tough to overcome, Kobe Bryant would have to deal with external conflict due to his own poor judgement, as in 2003, he would be charged with sexual assault in Eagle County, Colorado.<\/p>\n

In a season that would witness Bryant utilize private flights\u00a0from court hearing to prospective games, the 2003-2004 NBA season would be trying for a variety of reasons, as it ultimately would mark the beginning of the end for the dynamic duo.<\/p>\n

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Squandered Prime<\/h2>\n

Plenty would argue, including myself, that Kobe Bryant spent many formative years of his prime, trying to disprove the notion that he couldn’t win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal. With Bryant being so dead set on achieving this goal, his gaudy statistical performances of the 2005-2006 campaign would end up in resulting in lowly playoff seedings as a team with Chris Mihm and Smush Parker could not readily compete in the tough Western Conference.<\/p>\n

However, the aforementioned performances came in the variety of the second highest scoring total in NBA history as Kobe garnered a 81-point total against the Toronto Raptors in January of 2006. This all came on the heels of Bryant dropping 62 in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks in December of 2005.<\/p>\n

During the 2005-2006 season, Bryant would average 35.4 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per outing in his inaugural Nike Zoom Kobe 1. That aforementioned point-per-game average is the highest of Bryant’s career.<\/p>\n