{"id":797422,"date":"2019-06-20T11:41:01","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T15:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=797422"},"modified":"2019-06-20T00:03:03","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T04:03:03","slug":"adidas-the-kobe-throwback-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/adidas-the-kobe-throwback-thursday\/","title":{"rendered":"adidas The Kobe \/\/ Throwback Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Float on.<\/p>\n

Nineteen years ago, the world celebrated the launch of arguably the most iconic Adidas sneaker worn by Kobe Bryant \u2013 the adidas The Kobe<\/strong> \u2013 a pair that serves as one of the most avant-garde sneakers ever created, a polarizing silhouette much like the man himself.<\/p>\n

Early in his career, Kobe played with a giant chip on his shoulder, the new kid on the block with much to prove. Like Jordan had done nearly a decade earlier, Kobe seemingly had no fear and challenged the opposition \u2013 including his idol \u2013 with reckless abandon and raw talent that made both Jordan, NBA players, and fans around the world take notice that he had arrived.<\/p>\n

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Early growing pains ensued including most notably his four air-ball performance during Game 5 of the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. However, the game would, in turn, become Bryant\u2019s defining career moment. \u201cIt was an early turning point for me in being able to deal with adversity, deal with public scrutiny and self-doubt,\u201d Bryant said. \u201cAt 18 years old, it was gut-check time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winning time would soon follow.<\/p>\n

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photo by Andrew D. Bernstein via Getty Images via NBA Tumblr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kobe averaged career highs during the 99\/00 season \u2013 his first championship season \u2013 with averages of 22.5 points per game, shooting 47% from the floor, grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game, and dishing out nearly 5 assists per game, mostly passes to his big brother teammate, Shaq. Like his idol before him, Kobe committed himself to both ends of the floor in order to become a complete and total player, working on his defensive game en route to nine All-NBA Defensive First Team selections over the course of his historic career.<\/p>\n

Kobe\u2019s on-court swag, marketability, and stylish street and urban fashion appeal translated from his game to include his new pair of Adidas basketball kicks \u2013 the adidas The Kobe<\/strong> – which debuted prior to the 2000 NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n

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Adidas The Kobe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Designed by Eirick Lund Nielson, the adidas The Kobe took off where the Feet You Wear campaign had ended and instead was built from the outside in. Elegant, futuristic, and timeless, the design inspiration came from the Audi TT, also a product of German engineering.<\/p>\n

Regarding the design process of the Kobe shoe, Nielson said the following:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key to the design of The Kobe was the collaboration process between the automotive industry and footwear industry, inspired by a unique design approach. Traditionally, footwear design starts with the last and builds outward. With The Kobe, we built the shoe from the outside in. The quality materials married with a unique design approach have led to one of the most innovative basketball shoes to hit the market in recent history.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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OG adidas The Kobe Sample (photo by Nick DePaula)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shoe incorporated Adidas\u2019 brand-new Torsion System for medio-lateral forefoot stability during quick court movements and AdiPRENE+ for superb cushioning and support. A total of six original Kobe 1 colorways debuted during its initial run: sunshine yellow (2001 All-Star Game colorway), mesh, ice blue, black (debuted 11\/3\/00), white (debuted 12\/15\/00), and silver, at an original retail price point of $125.<\/p>\n

Some critics assert that the adidas The Kobe is one of the ugliest basketball signature sneakers ever produced. Regardless of one\u2019s position, one cannot discount the shoe\u2019s everlasting and transcending nature, a sneaker with great staying power as a result of its clean lines and aesthetics, both revolutionary and progressive in its own right.<\/p>\n

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Perhaps most importantly, the shoe was backed by amazing game play by Bryant.<\/p>\n

Kobe\u2019s historic overtime performance in Game 4 in the 2000 NBA Finals remains a moment in time which will forever be synonymous with the adidas The Kobe, a game which Kobe finished with an impressive stat-line of 28 points on 14\/27 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, a complete game by any reasonable standard. The image of Kobe tipping in Brian Shaw\u2019s missed field goal and running down the court with that unforgettable hand motion signaling to his teammates, \u201cI got this\u201d serves as one of the greatest NBA Finals moments in the modern era.<\/p>\n

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adidas The Kobe Ice Blue Sample from 2001<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kobe showed great preference towards the adidas The Kobe particularly from a performance and aesthetic perspective even as the brand attempted to move the adidas Kobe line forward into the future.<\/p>\n

On December 7, 2001, adidas launched the KobeTwo, a space-boot inspired model which gained notoriety when Kobe wore a custom USA-inspired PE version as a tribute to 9\/11; however, the KobeTwo didn’t resonate well with Kobe who reverted back to wearing the Kobe 1 shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n