Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers legend was solidified last night as the team retired both his number 8 and 24 jerseys at the Staples Center. The moment was met with an outpouring of tributes from brands, fans and peers alike, including a limited-edition sneaker launch from Nike.
The Air Force 1 Premium iD was released last night during the Lakers-Golden State Warriors game and features a number of details referencing Bryant’s on-court legends.
For starters, the shoes feature what Nike describes as an all-over “Mamba” skin detail, which is essentially a black faux snake texture throughout the upper. A drop-shadow Swoosh logo with a thick yellow border and 8 and 24 embroidery at the heel elevate the Kobe homage, while the model’s purple insole includes a print of Bryant’s autograph.
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Unfortunately, if you missed out on this drop, you’ll have to turn to the secondary market to pick them up now, as the pair was offered for a limited time. They’re currently available on eBay with a low price of $330, while one pair is listed as high as $1,500.
If you’re looking for other Kobe shoes at retail, you can shop the Kobe A.D. ($150), Kobe A.D. NXT (on sale for $149.97) and the Kobe Mamba Instinct ($100) from Nike’s e-commerce site now.
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