Nike & Kobe Bryant’s Estate Reconcile, Agree To Bring Back Sportswear Line

Nearly a year on from its beginnings, there appears to have been another twist in the Kobe Bryant-Nike saga.

In April last year, the estate of the late basketball superstar chose not to renew its deal with the sportswear giant, and launched its own Mambacita line just a few weeks later. 

The relationship got tenser in June, when Nike was admonished by Bryant’s estate after images of an unreleased sneaker surfaced online. The shoe was reported to have been mistakenly sent to customers who ordered a different model.

Now, in a surprise deal, the family has agreed to continue Bryant’s line of sneakers and apparel with Nike. 

According to an Instagram post by Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, 100% of all the net proceeds from the upcoming line will go towards the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which aids underserved boys and girls in sports.

In addition, Bryant revealed Nike will be working with the estate to develop a new youth basketball center located in Southern California. 

“I am so proud that my husbands shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world,” Bryant wrote.

“With this new partnership, fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike products for years to come,” she added. 

As per ESPN, almost 20% of all NBA players have worn a Kobe sneaker for a game since 2020. In fact, during the 19/20 season, 102 of 322 players participating in the league’s restart donned a pair from the Nike collection, proving the popularity of Bryant’s kicks.

Input reported that the first sneaker to come from the renewed partnership will be a Kobe 6 Protro in honor of Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, Kobe and Vanessa’s daughter who passed away in the helicopter crash together with her father. This version of the sneaker will be named the Mambacita Sweet 16 to commemorate what would’ve been her 16th birthday on May 1, 2022. 

“Kobe Bryant means so much to so many of us, not just NBA fans but globally beyond the game,” said John Donahoe, President of Nike. 

“Together with Vanessa, we hope to honor Kobe and Gigi by championing a new generation for many years to come,” he added. 

[via Input and ESPN, cover image via Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com]