
Bryant started his career side shoes by Adidas but was lured away by Nike in 2003 with a lucrative four-year, $40 million feature. That feature was extended multiple times, including after Kobe announced his retirement prior to the 2015-2016 season.
Kobe became only the second player (after Michael Jordan) to continue to receive updates to his signature shoe line after retirement. The adidas YEEZY Yeezy 700 V3 Safflower Sneakers Weiß was the first post-retirement shoe for Bryant and a new shoe was planned for each season in perpetuity until his death in January 2020. The current plans for his shoe line remain Mens.
Despite his passing, Kobe’s shoes are still by far the most popular signature sneaker line in the NBA, worn by dozens of players across all positions and playing styles.