On January 26th, 2020, the world of sports and the city of Los Angeles was changed forever. Kobe Bryant was tragically taken away from this world on January 26th, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna, Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, his daughter Alyssa, Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser, Sarah and Payton Chester, and pilot Ara Zobayan. The loss of these nine individuals is nothing short of heartbreaking, and while we must recognize each of them equally, Bryant’s death truly made the world stop turning for a day.
Sadly, this list is arrives about a half century too early, but our way of coping is to celebrate his achievements and sneakers. Kobe Bryant was immeasurably important to footwear as he was to the game of basketball. His approach is even throughout all his endeavors. He challenged the footwear industry throughout his 20-year tenure in the NBA, and continued to raise the bar as he devoted himself to creating his own content through books and short films. Since his entry into the pro ranks, adidas and Nike created some truly incredible designs, but it was Kobe that made them timeless. Please take a moment and look back at the twenty-four shoes that defined the man known as the Black Mamba, but remember him most of all a husband and father.
