The Kobe 1 and EQT Elevation models, created in collaboration with the legendary basketball player who passed away in 2020, will be given a new life under different names.
The name of basketball star Kobe Bryant is associated among sneaker lovers with a sports brand Nike
, with whom he collaborated from 2003 until his departure. However, before his work with this brand, the athlete worked closely with the German brand of sports shoes Adidas, resulting in the introduction of several sneaker models bearing his name.
Now, Adidas plans to re-launch two sneakers designed for Kobe Bryant during their collaboration from 1996 to the early 2000s. These are the Kobe 1, the first shoe designed specifically for a basketball player in 2001, and the EQT Elevation, a shoe that Bryant wore in his first NBA season in 1997. This is reported by the publishing house Complex, citing sources close to the company and the documentation that came into their possession, but the brand itself has not yet provided any official confirmation.
When bringing old models back to life, Adidas does not plan to use Bryant's name in any way, as well as names and images reminiscent of him. This is due to the fact that the brand did not enter into any agreements with the heirs of the basketball player. The Kobe 1 will be called the Crazy 1, while the EQT Elevation will be called the Crazy 97 EQT.
Crazy 1 sneakers inspired by the look Audi TT car, will be presented in yellow, the Sunshine model, and in classic black and white, the Stormtrooper model. The Crazy 1 shoes are slated to go on sale in April 2022. The Crazy 97 will be available in two colorways, purplish yellow to match the colors of the original shoes worn by Bryant, and orange and blue inspired by the colors of the basketball court and the color of the tickets used for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.
