The Bryant Estate has reached an agreement to continue the partnership with Nike
After a brief split and multiple disputes in early 2021, the Bryant Estate has reached an agreement to continue its partnership with Nike. Last week, Vanessa Bryant announced via social media that Nike will donate 100 % of the net proceeds of Gigi's shoes to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. In April of last year, Vanessa Bryant and the Bryant Estate elected not to renew the partnership with Nike. The Bryant Estate expressed their frustrations with Nike's lack of availability of Kobe products for fans post-retirement and following the horrific helicopter death. Kobe footwear products were also very limited in kid sizes. Vanessa Bryant intends for Kobe fans across the globe to have access to his products while honouring the legacies of her Husband and Daughter Gigi. The Bryant Estate will continue to push Nike in creating an inclusive space for the youth and global fans to represent the Kobe brand.
“My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products, I will continue to fight for that. Kobe’s products sell out in seconds. That says everything.”
Nike To Release The Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet 16
Photo Courtesy: NiKE
The Bryant Estate and Nike have mutually agreed on a partnership that will serve as a platform to honour the legacies of Gigi and Kobe while providing their global fans with access to Kobe footwear products. According to Nike, the first release from the renewed partnership could release on May 1st, which would have been Gigi's sixteenth birthday. The Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet 16’ was styled in black and white with gold accents, replicating the Mamba Ballers team uniforms. This time around, Nike will push to produce a higher volume of sneakers for re-releases while expanding Kobe sneakers in kid sizes. In addition, Nike is committed to building a basketball facility in Southern California. Kobe Bryant was invested in youth sports to build the next generation of leaders. The sneakers will be available to the general public across Nike retailers.
“Kobe means so much to us, not just NBA fans but globally beyond the game, his impact on growing the sport, particularly encouraging women and young people to pick it up, endures as one of his deepest, lasting legacies.”
How today's NBA players helped Kobe Bryant's sneakers return to Nike
Guard DeMar DeRozan rocking his player-exclusive colourway Kobe sneakers. (Photo Courtesy: ESPN)
Since his retirement, Kobe sneakers have gone up in high demand. Several NBA players spoke about the limited availability. The drought has completely shaken up the sneaker world. During the 202 NBA Bubble, nearly 70% of athletes wore Kobe sneakers, per Aaron Dodson. A handful of athletes such as DeMar DeRozan, P.J. Tucker, Isaiah Thomas, and Devin Booker are sporting Kobe sneakers. Player-exclusive colourways have circulated NBA locker rooms, leaving sneakerheads in a frenzy. In more recent years, the sneaker culture has monopolized popular Kobe-branded sneakers. This continued partnership between Nike-Bryant Estate, NBA athletes and global fans await to return of Kobe sneakers and the end of a drought.