In March last year, Nike and Kobe Bryant’s Estate reconciled after a brief hiatus, agreeing to continue the superstar player’s line of sneakers and apparel with the sportswear giant. It appears the highly-anticipated relaunch will happen soon, ahead of ‘Kobe Day’ on August 24, 2023.
It’s hardly surprising that Nike has decided to bring back the popular line, considering Bryant is still very much a standout figure in popular culture. In fact, just last month, a jersey the basketballer wore when he was a rookie sold for a whopping US$2.7 million.
According toSneaker News, murmurings of the relaunch came in an earnings call, when the brand confirmed a ‘Kobe Brand’ relaunch would take place before the special day dedicated to the athlete. It’s likely that the offerings will include footwear and accessories.
As per Sports Illustrated, fans can also look forward to several scheduled launches coming later this year. The Nike Kobe 8, Bryant’s eighth signature sneaker, will debut as part of the next installment of the brand’s ‘Protro series, while a special Nike Kobe 6 ‘Reverse Grinch’ colorway may appear around Christmas.