A source says Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant’s estate became frustrated with Nike after the company limited the availability of Kobe products during his retirement and after his January 2020 death.
What We Know:
- Vanessa told ESPN the contract ended on April 13. According to sources, Nike presented the estate an extension offer. However, Vanessa and the estate expected an ongoing “lifetime” contract like Lebron James and Michael Jordan, something the shoe company did not introduce.
- Regardless, some of the memorable aspects of the Nike partnership stay with Kobe’s estate, such as the “Mamba” logo and his signature. The “Sheath” logo often featured on the sneakers’ tongues is mutually owned by both sides.
- Kobe signed his first contract with Nike in 2003. His partnership with the business “created an impactful partnership with the brand that extended into the remainder of his Hall of Fame career.” Some of his more notable sneaker headlines include the Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5, the Hyperdunk, and 11 signature models. Nike launched Kobe 4 during Kobe’s 2008-2009 championship season with the Los Angeles Lakers; this made players across the National Basketball Association (NBA) wear low tops.
- After playing his last NBA game on April 13, 2016, he scored 60 points. Nike signed a five-year endorsement extension contract. They dubbed the date “Mamba Day” in an extravagant farewell campaign. During his retirement, Kobe released a series of both old and new sneakers. He said he wanted his “Protro” shoes to upgrade his older designs with modern constructions and technologies. Some of them that have been re-released is the Kobe 1, 4, 5, and 6. Therefore, the new models would be ” a pro-level, updated retro edition of his past sneakers.”
“Kobe Bryant was an important part of Nike’s deep connection to consumers… He pushed us and made everyone around him better. Though our contractual relationship has ended, he remains a deeply loved member of the Nike family,” Nike said in a statement to ESPN.
- Before his untimely death, Kobe explored the possibility of making his own Mamba brand upon the expiration of the deal. He even met with a creative agency to potentially help design and execute future products.
- Vanessa also recognized Kobe’s impact on the brand. On her Instagram story, she posted a screenshot of the ESPN article. She then made another post on her story in which she explained the contract’s ending. She wrote that Kobe and Nike made “some of the most beautiful” basketball shoes. Additionally, she stated that more NBA players wear Kobe’s products than any other shoe. Vanessa hopes Kobe’s fans will always have the chance to obtain and wear his products and continue fighting for them. She even mentioned her disappointment in not having a lifelong contract.
“I was hoping to forge a lifelong partnership with Nike that reflects my husband’s legacy. We will always do everything we can to honor Kobe and Gigi’s legacies. That will never change,” she concluded.
- Nike will likely halt all future releases of Kobe Bryant-branded footwear and apparel, ESPN reports. The estate could also enter into negotiations with outside brands and form a new partnership. Many NBA players have paid tribute to Kobe by wearing his shoes. Some have even redesigned their own player-exclusive colorways of Kobe Protro models to uphold his sneaker legacy. These include Devin Booker, P.J. Tucker, DeMar DeRozan, Buddy Hield, Isaiah Thomas, and others. Throughout the NBA bubble, 102 players wore Kobe-branded sneakers, making it the most of any player’s shoe line in the league. In addition, Laker guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Talen Horton-Tucker wore pairs of Kobe’s shoes against the Utah Jazz on Monday; they declared they intend to keep doing so in future games.
- Kobe died in a helicopter accident alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, her teammates, their family members, and the pilot. The group was headed to Gianna’s basketball game on Kobe’s private helicopter. In February, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruled that pilot error was the most significant reason for the crash. The NTSB also claimed that Ara Zobayan made a “poor decision” to fly at an excessive airspeed, approximately 160 miles per hour, into an area with low visibility. Kobe was 41. The other passengers included Payton Chester, 13; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; John Altobelli, 56; Christina Mauser, 38; and Zobayan, 50.
Nike quickly sold out of Kobe’s clothing and shoes after his tragic death last year. Last February, the company released a touching commercial to commemorate Kobe’s legacy. It highlighted various moments from the basketball player’s career via various audio recordings. The commercial ended with the words “Mamba Forever.” Despite the end of an almost two-year partnership, Kobe will always have a tremendous influence on the company’s history and image.
