Kicks

Vanessa Bryant intimated two more drops of Kobe's Nike sneakers are on the way in an Instagram story Friday. 

Vanessa Bryant says there will be “2 more drops” of Kobe releases. pic.twitter.com/fJA9zraPPg

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 24, 2021

On April 21, Nike confirmed that Bryant's contract officially expired after his estate declined to renew. 

“Kobe Bryant was an important part of Nike’s deep connection to consumers,” a Nike spokesman, Josh Benedek, said in a statement, per Kevin Draper of The New York Times. “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.”

At least two more pairs are on the way, however, and it's easy to imagine the demand will be as high as ever. 

"Kobe’s Nike contract expired on 4/13/21," Vanessa Bryant wrote on her Instagram Story earlier this month. "Kobe and Nike have made some of the most beautiful basketball shoes of all time, worn and adored by fans and athletes in all sports across the globe. It seems fitting that more NBA players wear my husband’s product than any other signature shoe. My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products."

The last new pair of Bryant's signature shoes to hit the market were the Kobe 6 Grinch that released on December 24, 2020, at $190 retail. 

According to StockX, those are already trading for between $254-$520 with some pairs selling for as much as $1,000. 

It's unclear what the last two Nikes pairs could look like or when they'll be released. 

With Nike not extending its contract with Kobe Bryant's estate, Anthony Davis will have to conserve his remaining sneakers. 

"It definitely hurts," Davis said of the news, per Mark Medina of USA Today. "It definitely makes me think about which Kobes I want to wear and which ones I want to keep as my personal possessions."

Bryant died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 but had a contract with Nike through this month. Nike let the deal expire, giving the Los Angeles Lakers legend's estate the ability to negotiate with other brands, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

"Kobe Bryant was an important part of Nike's deep connection to consumers," Nike said in a statement. "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."

After beginning his NBA career with Adidas, Bryant signed with Nike in 2003 and released numerous signature shoes over the next two decades.

Davis has been with Nike since entering the NBA in 2012.

The estate of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant has declined to renew his endorsement deal with Nike.

Nike confirmed the relationship between the two sides ended:

Statement from Nike: “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.” pic.twitter.com/zSOVAJfD6n

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) April 20, 2021

Complex's Brendan Dunne first reported the story, and ESPN's Nick DePaula spoke with Vanessa Bryant about the development.

"Kobe's Nike contract expired on 4/13/21," Vanessa said. "Kobe and Nike have made some of the most beautiful basketball shoes of all time, worn and adored by fans and athletes in all sports across the globe. It seems fitting that more NBA players wear my husband's product than any other signature shoe."

Bryant died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. Immediately after Bryant's death, interest in his Nike line surged.

According to DePaula, Bryant and his family "had grown frustrated with Nike limiting the availability of Kobe product during his retirement" and in the wake of his death.

Vanessa Bryant referenced how Kobe continues to be beloved by many fans.

"My hope will always be to allow Kobe's fans to get and wear his products," she said. "I will continue to fight for that. Kobe's products sell out in seconds. That says everything.

"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."

Dunne reported that prior to Bryant's death the sales of his signature Nike shoes were "flagging," while DePaula reported Nike failed to present an offer to Bryant that mirrored "lifetime" deals Michael Jordan and LeBron James have received from the company.

"Bryant, they say, was a low priority at Nike's basketball division at the time, his shoes not warranting the marketing attention the brand was giving to its active NBA stars with signature lines like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron James," Dunne wrote.

Dunne also pointed to a tweet from venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, who said the 18-time All-Star was planning to leave Nike:

I met with Kobe Bryant in late December 2019. Kobe wasn’t happy with Nike and was going to leave it in 2020. Kobe was going to start Mamba, a shoe company owned by players. He passed away weeks later. What he was about to do in business was going to eclipse his sports career.

— Shervin (@shervin) December 29, 2020

As he was preparing to enter the NBA in 1996, Bryant signed an endorsement deal with Adidas. The sides went separate ways in July 2002, and nearly a year later he signed with Nike.

Last month, TMZ Sports reported the Bryant family had filed a trademark for "Mamba and Mambacita." An attorney representing Kobe Bryant LLC stated in the filing the trademark would be used for clothing.

Vanessa Bryant confirmed his estate carries the licensing rights for his signature and unique "Mamba" logo, but DePaula reported the "Sheath" logo that often adorns Bryant's Nike apparel "is mutually owned by both sides."

Word emerged Monday, March 29, that Nike was suing MSCHF Product Studio Inc. for trademark infringement after the American art collective created and sold Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes," which are modified Nike Air Max 97 sneakers.

𖤐♥ pic.twitter.com/BbLZduWRkH

— ☆ ‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l (@LilNasX) March 31, 2021

On Thursday, Nike and MSCHF reportedly reached a settlement agreement whereas MSCHF will issue a voluntary recall of the shoes and buy them back for their original retail prices to take them out of circulation, per TMZ Sports.

Nike already won in court on Wednesday, April 2, when a U.S. District Court in New York granted a temporary restraining order preventing MSCHF from selling the shoes.

Nike's complaint read as follows in part, per Chauncey Alcorn of CNN Business:

"MSCHF and its unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF's products and Nike. In the short time since the announcement of the Satan Shoes, Nike has suffered significant harm to its goodwill, including among consumers who believe that Nike is endorsing satanism."

Lil Nas X was not named in the lawsuit.

Per TMZ Sports, the shoes had "an inverted cross, bronze pentagram and a drop of human blood." According to Doha Madani and Diana Dasrath of NBC News, a total of 666 pairs were sold for $1,018 each.

Michael Jordan is listed at No. 1,931 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people in 2021, coming in with a net worth of $1.6 billion.

The majority of his net worth comes from his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets and his stake in the Jordan Brand, his world-renowned apparel brand he started with Nike.

The Hornets currently have a valuation of $1.5 billion after Jordan sold a minority stake in 2019. 

Forbes had Jordan's net worth listed at $2.1 billion last year. It is unclear what led to the $500 million drop.

While Jordan's wealth has expanded beyond anyone's wildest dreams from when he began his career, he ranks in the lower half of majority NBA governors. Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer is the richest in the sport, with a valuation of $68.7 billion that ranks him 14th in the world. 

Joseph Tsai of the Brooklyn Nets ranks second with a net worth of $11.6 billion to place No. 189.

J. Cole is letting fans own a piece of his creative process—and one of his favorite sneakers designs, too. 

The rapper from North Carolina is releasing the third pair of shoes in his Dreamer collaboration with Puma: the RS-Dreamer Proto. The design was never meant to make it to market, but fans will have their chance to purchase them later this week. 

Here's all the important details:

• Release date: April 2
• Price: $125/$90 (JR)
• Available via Puma.com, Foot Locker, Puma NYC Flagship Store

Per Puma: 

"This original prototype silhouette design was inspired by J. Cole's vision and PUMA's technology, leading to the release of the RS-Dreamer and initiating the birth of the franchise. With that, PUMA couldn't keep this unique colorway a secret any longer and are releasing the prototype that started it all—with the chance that it may never return."

The first pair in the series was released last July as the NBA restart commenced, with J. Cole hoping to produce a pair of shoes that could be worn both on the court as well as casually. 

With the newest pair, sneaker fans get a glimpse that the design process and a chance to wear a pair not expected to see the light of day. 

Following the release of Lil Nas X's custom "Satan Shoes," made using Nike Air Max 97s, the sneaker giant quickly distanced itself from the rapper's collaboration and said it had nothing to do with the shoes that contain a drop of real human blood.

Nike took things further than a press release on Monday, suing MSCHF, the art collective behind the sneakers, in U.S. District Court for trademark infringement, false designation of origin/unfair competition violation, trademark dilution, common law trademark infringement and unfair competition.

To clarify: These are simply customs and not an official release.

Statement from Nike:
“We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.” https://t.co/qQnKEYkhcS

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) March 28, 2021

The shoes were released in conjunction with the newest single and music video from Lil Nas X, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," with all 666 pairs selling out in less than a minute, per CNN's Oscar Holland and Jacqui Palumbo. 

While Nike Air Max 97s typically cost between $150-$200, the Satan Shoes sold for $1,018 a piece—a reference to the Bible passage Luke 10:18 that describes Satan falling from heaven. 

The sole of the shoes contains red ink with a drop of human blood mixed in. 

A MSCHF spokesperson confirmed to CNN that Nike was not involved with the project "in any capacity."

Lil Nas X jokingly responded to the lawsuit on his Twitter account using gifs from SpongeBob SquarePants after explaining both the song and shoes are meant to evoke outrage in those who discriminated against him as a member of the LGBTQ community. 

me after the nike lawsuit pic.twitter.com/XVLjHlSrru

— ☆ ‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021

"I spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the s--t y’all preached would happen to me because I was gay," Lil Nas X tweeted. "So I hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves."

i thought y’all didn’t like political correctness. what happened? 😫😢

— ☆ ‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021

i’ll be honest all this backlash is putting an emotional toll on me. i try to cover it with humor but it’s getting hard. my anxiety is higher than ever and stream call me by your name on all platforms now!

— ☆ ‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021

The rapper also posted a mock apology video that instead cuts to a clip of his music video. 

Nike did not name Lil Nas X as a defendant but claims the suit is about "setting the record straight" on the sneakers in the wake of calls to boycott the brand by those who believe the company was involved in the creation and release of the shoes.  

 

Any pair of game-worn Air Jordans is going to be worth quite a pretty penny. 

Throw in the fact Michael Jordan signed them in 1985 and presented them as a gift to a top prospect's grandmother while trying to convince said prospect to attend North Carolina, and the price is going to be even higher.

Oh, and the shoes are the iconic Air Jordan 1s.

That is the situation for the current pair of shoes up for bidding at MEARS Online Auctions. The website and TMZ Sports also delve into the backstory in which North Carolina head coach Dean Smith attempted to use Jordan to recruit this prospect to join the Tar Heels.

The recruit's grandmother met Jordan in Chicago after a Bulls game, and His Airness signed the shoes for her while talking up North Carolina. Rather incredibly, the effort didn't work, as the player did not join the Tar Heels.

The grandmother kept the shoes until she died, and they were gifted to an unknown person.

They are now up for sale, and the auction ends Saturday.

MEARS suggested the shoes should be valued at approximately $3.6 million.

Some of the biggest stars in the NBA will be playing for more than just the game this month.

Nike announced the launch of its "Play for the Future" signature pack Wednesday. The new shoes for LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Paul George and Kevin Durant are designed to represent how they play for the future by supporting initiatives such as clean air, renewable and recycled energy, safe agriculture and clean water.

Here is a closer look at the launch details.

            

LeBron XVIII 'Play for the Future'

These will retail on March 7 and sell for $225. The white, clear and blue-tinted colorway represents clean and unpolluted air that will be necessary to continue playing basketball in the future.

         

Kyrie 7 'Play for the Future'

These will retail on March 7 and sell for $140. The overall design represents Irving's commitment to healthy living through his plant-based diet and includes a sprouted "KI" logo and graphics inspired by plants.

           

Zoom Freak 2 'Play for the Future'

These will retail on March 7 and sell for $130. The colorway represents the need to recycle, and the shoe symbolizes Nike's commitment to future generations.

         

PG5 'Play for the Future'

These will retail on March 7 and sell for $120. The watery green colorway with ripple-like graphics represents George's love of rivers and lakes and desire to protect water into the future.

         

KD13 'Play for the Future'

These will retail on March 7 and sell for $160. The platinum tint, metallic silver and pulse blue colorway represents the need for clean electric energy to provide power for the future.

Nike is going back to Michael Jordan's college days at North Carolina for His Airness' latest retro sneaker release. 

The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "University Blue" sneakers will drop Sunday at select locations around the world. 

Here are additional release details, via Sneaker News:

• Price: $170
• Where to buy (North America locations): Finish Line, JD Sports US, Nike SNKRS US, YCMC, Foot Locker, Footaction, Eastbay
• Time: 10 a.m. ET. 

Per HighSnobiety, the shoes will be available in men's, grade school, preschool and toddler sizing.

The Air Jordan 1 was originally developed by Nike in 1984 when Jordan was a rookie with the Chicago Bulls. It was originally banned by the NBA because it featured a heavy red-and-black colorway, which violated the league's rules that shoes had to be at least 51 percent white or black with "a minimal team color accent."

ESPN's Nick DePaula last May named the Air Jordan 1 as the second-best sneaker in NBA history, behind the Air Jordan 11. 

Nike has frequently used Tar Heel blue as part of the design for Jordan sneakers, both new and retro style. The legend of Jordan was born during his three years at North Carolina, starting with the game-winning shot in the 1982 national title game against Georgetown as a freshman.