Kobe Bryant – you love him or you hate him…
Nike’s iconic Zoom Kobe IV (4) found its way onto shelves earlier this year with the “Draft Day” colorway, but it’s very apparent that more looks await us on the horizon.
A patient approach with Bryant’s fourth signature shoe seems to be Nike’s plan of attack, and that’s cool, we’ll take quality over quantity any day. Yesterday images of the next possible Kobe 4 drop leaked, and we ???? were ???? pumped ???? to learn that the “Carpe Diem” joints are next up to bat!
Saying that the Zoom Kobe 4 was/is groundbreaking would be an understatement. Sure, low tops had been done before the ZK4, but no one of Kobe’s caliber had dared to go as low as Bryant (and the shoe’s designer, Eric Avar) on a Nike signature performance model. The shoe’s design allowed for improved freedom of motion and fit (via heel clip and Flywire), but above all, the Kobe 4 was feather light, agile and aggressive. Many would say the ZK4 was perfect upon its release in 2008 but that didn’t stop Nike from giving it the ‘Protro’ treatment this time around with improved materials and construction.
Last week DeMar DeRozan debuted a PE Undefeated x Kobe 4 Protro, then we got a clean look at a “Carpe Diem” retro, so now we want to look ahead at 5 OG Zoom Kobe 4s that should be retro’ed next. Only original colorways will be considered even though we’d happily accept a general release of some of the PEs we’ve seen on the feet of various Nike athletes throughout the 2018-19 season. Tell us in the comments section below which pairs you’d like to see drop next!
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “MLK”
Kobe started the BHM/MLK Day basketball trend all the way back in 2009 with these Martin Luther King Jr. Day kicks. Now, there’s no direct MLK branding or inspiration on these other than the regal gold, but they just so happened to be on Kobe’s feet on that particular day. The kicks quickly earned the “MLK Kobes” nickname and the rest is history – Nike needs to hit us with these again.
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “ASG”
Lets be real, Nike should just retro every signature hoops shoe from Kobe, LeBron and KD from 2003-13 because bangers were plentiful in those iconic Nike Basketball years. These red heaters from the ’09 ASG in Phoenix were so simple and sooo effective at the same time. Red/gold and white never go out of style especially when you through in a light gum outsole.
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “USA”
‘Merica baby, ‘Merica! Golden snakeskin was a vibe on these USA ready 4s. The ’08 Redeem Team lead by Kobe Bryant brought Olympic Gold back to good ol’ US of A and these Kobe 4s serve as a perfect time capsule to that achievement. Great execution.
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “Del Sol”
#BringBackLakerColorsOnKobes
The “Del Sol” Kobe 4s were the debut colorway of the model and were absolute fire. That quilted ankle slapped alongside the shoe’s yellow Flywire and branding. Simple, for L.A., and clean – just do the damn thing, Nike.
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “MVP”
Championship pedigree right here people. Nike laced Kobe up proper for the ’09 NBA Finals with two graffiti print kicks with his NBA stats splattered throughout. Doubters said Kobe couldn’t win it all without Shaq, but Kobe proved everyone wrong with these on-foot. The “MVPs” were the Kobe 4s of the day and they’d be perfect for a 10 year celebratory release!