Nike Kobe 9 Elite
For the first time since 2007 and the release of his third signature silhouette, Kobe Bryant and
For the first time since 2007 and the release of his third signature silhouette, Kobe Bryant and Nike Basketball footwear designer Eric Avar return to a high-top cut with the brand new Kobe 9 Elite. A high-top sneaker that plays like a low, the design marks the Swoosh’s first use of Flyknit on a basketball shoe, pairing the lightweight technology with a knit collar – complete with nine red embroidered details as a nod to Kobe’s Achilles sutures – and Dynamic Flywire for added support while a massive carbon fiber heel counter provides both lateral support and a lockdown fit. Cushioning once again comes in the form of a drop-in Lunarlon midsole while the outsole’s traction pattern is a pressure map of the Black Mamba’s own foot. Seen here in the so-called “Masterpiece” colorway, the Nike Kobe 9 Elite is set to be available February 8, 2014, but will likely see its on-court debut when Bryant returns to the Staples Center hardwood for the first time since last year’s season-ending injury.
