Nike Sells out of Kobe Bryant Products

According to multiple reports, Nike has pulled all of its Kobe Bryant products from its online store in a move to deter resellers from profiting off of the basketball player’s sudden death on Sunday. Nike‘s Kobe page has since been replaced with a tribute. However, a Nike spokesperson told Forbes that the company had sold out of Bryant products instead of pulling them.

As of Tuesday morning, searches for “Kobe” on the Nike.com store only returned one result: a Los Angeles Lakers-themed gift card. Other reports are also stating Nike has asked Foot Locker and several other consignment stores to return Kobe products. Las Vegas-based Urban Necessities said in a statement, “Out of respect for his family and legacy, we will not allow price changes on Kobe items.” On the other hand, Nike has yet to make an official comment about why it pulled all of its Kobe products, or when they will return. A new colorway of Bryant’s Kobe 5 Protro sneaker was scheduled to launch February 7, 2020, however Nike is now reevaluating whether to proceed or hold off on the release.

“Kobe was one of the greatest athletes of his generation and has had an immeasurable impact on the world of sport and the community of basketball,” Nike’s tribute page reads. “He was a beloved member of the Nike family. We will miss him greatly. Mamba forever.”

Kobe Bryant‘s legacy will live on. The NBA All-Star will be immortalized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

UPDATE:
According to my sources at the brand, the reason there isn’t any Kobe product on NDC is because it all sold out. Kobe product was not pulled from the site.

Info for the Kobe 5 Protro “Championship/Trophy” is still pending. https://t.co/h1qMMJaKZR

— Jacques Slade (@kustoo) January 28, 2020