The most consistent aspects of Nike Basketball’s approach to Kobe’s signature sneakers have always been to be daring and constantly seeking change. Their risk-taking has generated dope models (ZKV and ZKVI were the bees’ knees) and not-so-great models. The Kobe 9 fell under the latter category. For as advanced as the it was, I never saw anyone wearing the knit wrestling boots on the court, much less off it.
However, the new Kobe X will right the trend quickly. It features enough new tech – Lunarlon-Free-like hybrid cushioning, Zoom Air in the heel, a seamless textile upper – to keep hoopers happy. Seriously, just listen to Eric Avar describe them in the video to get a sense of how evolved these are for court performance.
But the clutch part is they’re just really f**king aesthetically pleasing so people who roll fashion first over function will love these joints, or at least I do. Switching back to a low is a thumbs-up for starters. The color story behind the ‘5 AM Flight’ seen here originates from a 40-foot dive the Mamba took towards the end of his recovery from Achilles surgery is cool and all, but not necessary. The pool shade of blue heightens the transparent features on the X and leave them oozing character whether they gain a cool nickname or not.
The Kobe X ‘5 AM Flight’ and coordinated apparel collection all launch on February 7 via nike.com and usual retail spots with more colorways to follow. From the looks of it, the bad ass is back in effect for the Mamba’s new model.
