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Kobe Bryant Nikes from Final Season Headed For IPO

The pair of Kobe 11 Elite Lows that he wore during a 99-96 win over the Pelicans will be available for fractional ownership at 8:24 p.m.

As the world of rare and exclusive memorabilia continues to unearth gems across collectible silos, yet another impressive pair of shoes is now available to own as a fractional investment.

The Collectable App is launching a game-worn pair of Kobe Bryant’s signature Nikes from his final NBA season Wednesday evening at 8:24 p.m. ET, originally worn by the Laker legend on Feb. 4, 2016 during a road win against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Drafting off of Nike’s “Power of One” theme for its 2016 Black History Month Collection and celebrating the impact that a single athlete can have across global communities, the “BHM” edition of the Kobe 11 Elite Low features a black upper, game royal toe and multi-color knit pattern through the mid-foot.

After debuting FlyKnit in basketball on the Kobe 9, the Kobe 11 served as the sleeker execution of his ongoing signature design language with Nike’s Eric Avar. For the “BHM” edition in particular, Nike created a coinciding graphic of Bryant with its Pan-African-inspired artwork highlighted throughout the collection. 

“Throughout my time with Nike, I’ve obsessed about the details of my shoes,” Bryant said at the time.

Bryant only wore the “BHM” version of his final on-court signature model in four games – the New Orleans game was his second time wearing them. He went on to drop 27 points and grab 12 rebounds in that pair, with a game-sealing three down the stretch serving as the memorable play of the 99-96 win. 

(Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

After the Pelicans game, Bryant played in just 24 more regular season games to cap off his iconic 20-year NBA career with the Lakers. 

Throughout his final season, the frenzy around Bryant’s farewell tour escalated with each road game. Oftentimes, opposing players would wait out his lengthy post-game press conference availability to try and get his game-worn sneakers, with Kobe often adding a personalized inscription and signature along the knit toe of each shoe. 

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“Generally, guys that got the cojones to ask, I give it to them,” Bryant told Baxter Holmes.

That makes this pair, photomatched and authenticated by MeiGray, that much more rare, given that players like Draymond Green, Tony Allen, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant are in possession of personalized game-worn Bryant pairs after facing off against the Lakers. 

Nick DePaula

Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.

About The Author
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.