The NBA is an arms race for sneakerheads. Every player is constantly competing to have the best footwear on the hardwood. Even if it is for just one night, a good performance in impressive sneakers can set social media ablaze.
On Tuesday night, Markelle Fultz outshined his competition. The Orlando Magic guard tallied 11 points and five assists against the Memphis Grizzlies while wearing a rare pair of shoes from the Kobe Bryant signature line.
The former top draft pick used to play exclusively in shoes from LeBron James' line but has begun switching it up over the past few years. Fultz is a Nike athlete who prefers the classics, even if they are several years old.
However, Fultz went way deep in his bag to find a pair of Nike Kobe 8 System shoes in a one-of-one colorway. Bryant's eighth signature sneaker with the Swoosh launched in late 2012 and enjoyed an incredible run that included dozens of general release colorways and customization options. Below is what fans must know about Fultz's shoes.
Nike Kobe 8
Fultz wore the Nike Kobe 8 System in either a player-exclusive colorway or a one-of-one version customized online. Regardless of the shoe's origins, there are not many of them in existence, and they are over a decade old at this point.
Nike went out of its mind with Bryant's eighth signature shoe. The model came in several different versions, including a scaled option that Jonathan Kuminga wore last month.
While Nike cranked out countless colorways of the Nike Kobe 8, Bryant went on an equally impressive run during the 2012-13 NBA season before tearing his Achilles just before the Western Conference Playoffs.
We have lamented the direction of the Nike Kobe line a lot over the past few weeks. The performance basketball shoes were once produced for the masses but are now a luxury item more likely to be seeded to celebrities than appear on a store shelf.
Nevertheless, fans will have a few shots at buying some of Bryant's legendary shoes this year. The Nike Kobe 4 Protro is dropping in a colorway honoring Gigi Bryant on May 1, and the Nike Kobe 6 'Reverse Grinch' is coming next holiday season.
Best of all, the Nike Kobe 8 Protro is finally launching later this year as well. Let's hope Nike returns to its roots and produces enough shoes for everyone who wants to buy a pair. Stay locked into FanNation Kicks for all your sneaker news.
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