Nike has announced the relaunch of Kobe Bryant’s iconic shoe line, much to the delight of fans of the late basketball legend. The company teased the return of the “Kobe Brand” via social media on August 9, hinting that the line is “almost here.”
This announcement was made jointly by Nike and Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow. The duo dropped a teaser video, revealing that new Bryant shoes will be released starting from August 23, a date that would have marked Kobe’s 45th birthday.
Vanessa Bryant confirmed that the Kobe 8 “Halo” sneakers will be the first to hit the market. These sneakers will reportedly retail for an estimated $180 per pair.
Notably, this marks the first release under the Kobe name since the basketball legend’s contract with Nike expired in April 2021. However, in 2022, Nike and Bryant’s estate reached a new licensing agreement.
Under this new agreement, Nike is authorized to re-release eight models that were made during Bryant’s career, in addition to the six models released after his retirement in 2016.
In a touching tribute, Nike has also agreed to release apparel in honor of Gigi Bryant, Kobe and Vanessa’s daughter, who was tragically among the nine people who died in the January 2020 helicopter crash.