Vanessa Bryant is designing the Nike show that will appear on Kobe’s 45th birthday
Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant has designed a pair of Nike sneakers that the sportswear giant plans to release on August 23 – which would have been the NBA legend’s 45th birthday.
Both Nike and Vanessa teased the all-white sneakers, dubbed the Protro 8, in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
“Kobe 8 ‘Halo’ 8.23.23 🤍 This will be one of many Kobe 8 ‘halo’ styles coming soon,” Vanessa captioned the post, which included a video of the shoe’s silhouette.
Nike said in its post that the sneaker release “marks the continuation of a storied legacy… and embodies the timeliness of an icon never forgotten.”
The Los Angeles Lakers star, who wore the number 8, tragically died along with one of his daughters and six others in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Featuring a herringbone traction pattern, Nike’s Swoosh embroidery and the Mamba logo on the tongue, the Protro 8 sneakers will be available via the SNKRS app on Bryant’s birthday.
in one press release On Thursday, Nike announced that the Halo line will be “an annual release honoring and celebrating this special date.”
The release renews a partnership with Nike that began in 2005 with the introduction of the Zoom Kobe 1 and expanded to 13 pairs of sneakers that Bryant modeled off and on court until his retirement in 2016.
Vanessa’s Halo model stars in the first Kobe 8 show released under his brand name in 2012.
“At the time of release, the silhouette was the lightest in the Kobe line and met Kobe’s desire for a shoe that was like an extension of his foot,” Nike said.
Nike declined to comment beyond the press release.
Below Bryant’s deathMany fans wondered what would become of his partnership with Nike, which is due to expire in 2021.
In March 2022, Vanessa announced that she had inked a new deal with Nike that would allow the company to produce shoes in honor of Bryant and his daughter, Gigi Bryant, who died in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
In addition to Vanessa, Bryant and Gigi, they leave daughters Natalia (20), Bianka (six) and Capri (four).
Announcing the renewed partnership with Nike, Vanessa said, “I’m so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn shoes by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes is growing among his fans around the world.” world is still big.”
“With this new partnership, fans will soon have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike products for years to come, and Nike donates 100% of the net proceeds from Gianna’s shoes to our Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (M&MSF) annually.”
