With the Los Angeles Lakers adjusting to life in their first season without Kobe Bryant in the past 20 years, the future Hall of Famer is similarly moving forward. On Tuesday, Nike officially unveiled the Kobe A.D., which is the first signature shoe for Bryant post-retirement.
During his storied career Bryant donned six Adidas models, then had 11 signature shoes with Nike. Though it wasn’t part of Bryant’s line, he was very much the cover athlete for the iconic Nike Hyperdunk.
The Kobe A.D. breaks from the traditional numerical naming of a new shoe but it in essence is the 12th iteration of his signature line with Nike, not a takedown model along the likes of the Kobe Mentality, Kobe Zoom Icon, or Kobe Venomenon.
The Biblical reference is a connection to Bryant’s life beyond the hardwood. It’s unclear if the Kobe A.D. will follow in the footsteps of the Kobe 11, which saw two different toolings – flyknit and engineered mesh.
Bryant’s latest sneaker features a Zoom Air heel unit, Lunarlon foam in the midsole, plus a breathable mesh with Dynamic Flywire.
Bryant’s Sheath/Shozoku logo is emblazoned on the heels of both shoes:
The Kobe A.D. releases Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Nike.com and select retailers. The suggested retail price is $160.
