Prior to signing with Nike in 2003, Kobe Bryant took a year off the signature sneaker game. Despite being a three-time NBA champion and one of the league’s most popular players at that point, Bryant was a man without a shoe deal. His departure with adidas was not without controversy (some legit, some made up by the internet, some based on the awfulness of the KOBETWO), but that did not stop brands from chasing Mamba. Instead of jumping on board with another brand right away, Kobe spent the entire 2002-03 NBA season wearing whatever the hell he damn well pleased. And it was a glorious time.
Unlike other prominent sneaker free agents that have come after Kobe and those of lesser stature but with killer sneaker game, Mamba did not stick to one brand. He was the proverbial kid in the candy store who had to try everything and the candy store had no problem giving him everything. It didn’t matter if it was Nike or Brand Jordan (yeah, Brand Jordan) or Reebok or classics like Converse or upstarts like AND1, Bryant rocked them all and he rocked everything from customs to exclusives to obscure releases. If sneaker blogs were around during that time, it would have been a royal pain in the ass to get new pics after every game because those services just weren’t easily accessible at the time. But damn if sneakerheads wouldn’t be tuning in just to catch a glimpse of what Kobe was wearing every night.
Alas, the fun would only last for one season as Bryant would sign with Nike the following year alongside another big name in LeBron James. But here’s a look back at Kobe Bryant’s Amazing 2002-03 NBA Season As A Sneaker Free Agent and don’t forget to check out our thoughts on Kobe’s latest signature shoe (or takedown because it’s not confirmed yet) Nike Kobe 11.
Photos and info courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, USA Today, Sole Collector, hupu, AND1 Philippines, Kicks On Cards, Nice Kicks, The Shoe Game, Complex.
Nike Air Force 1
Nike Air Max Elite (Battlegrounds Edition)
Nike Air Zoom Flight Turbine
AND1 Desire and AND1 Mad Game
Converse Weapon
Air Jordan 3 PE
Air Jordan 3 “True Blue”
Air Jordan 6 Low
Air Jordan 7 Home and Away PEs
Air Jordan 8
Air Jordan 11 “Concord”
Air Jordan 17+
Air Jordan 17
Reebok Question
Reebok Answer 4
Reebok Answer 6
The post NBA Kicks Retro: Kobe Bryant’s Amazing 2002-03 NBA Season As A Sneaker Free Agent appeared first on KicksOnFire.com.
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