Kobe Bryant spent Dia De Los Muertos a tad different than most. We all know by now the Black Mamba has played the final game of his 20-year career. The contest, ended in his signature style, dropping 60 points and announcing to the world Mamba Out!! But what has Kobe been up to since? The Kobe A.D.
Right back to work, but of a different kind. Some athletes might have let the retirement game sink in for a day, maybe a week. Not Bryant, the next day after his final game he was right back at it, in the office at 8 a.m., opening the new chapter of his life with the same intensity he’d pushed through the previous two decades on the hardwood. The results of his latest effort is his first post-career shoe entitled appropriately enough — Kobe A.D. And he unveiled those trainers on none other than Dia De Los Muertos.
So what are the specs on this latest set of kicks. Well, the Nike Kobe A.D., continues a legacy of lightweight, low-profile on-court footwear. It combines a Zoom Air unit in the heel (with some dope chrome accents).
Lunarlon foam in the midsole and a minimal rubber outsole (with micro-tread traction), the shoe provides responsive, flexible cushioning and maximum court feel.
A breathable mesh upper with incorporated Dynamic Flywire, ensures lock down for quick changes of direction toward the basket or to cover an opponent on the court or in the boardroom.
Noted for his cerebral approach, Bryant’s transition from player to mentor focuses on transference of his revered “Mamba Mentality.” This is evident in both his approach to the game’s intricacies — from footwork to reading defenses — and his consideration of equipment.
At the event Kobe commented, “Even though I am not on the court every day, there are people around the world who are helping to keep the ‘Mamba Mentality’ alive,” says Bryant. “I have seen it in basketball, football and with everyday individuals who are working to be better and are committed to being great.”
For a look at all the action at the Dia De Los Muertos unboxing, visit our gallery. The Nike Kobe A.D., drops November 22nd, with a suggested retail price of $160, at nike.com and select retailers.