The 2002-03 NBA season was a bitter-sweet time for Los Angeles Lakers fans. The team's quest for a fourth consecutive title unceremoniously ended in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
However, Kobe Bryant officially became the number-one option for the Lakers and put together one of the most unforgettable stretches of offensive production the league had ever seen. Even better, he did it as a sneaker free agent and debuted so much heat throughout his tour de force.
Bryant's sneaker free agency is now serving as the inspiration for a new colorway of the Nike Air Force 1, according to Vanessa Bryant. On Thursday afternoon, Vanessa shared a sneak peek of the sneakers with fans on her Instagram.
Vanessa captioned the post, "The AF-1 Low - inspired by Kobe’s season as a sneaker free-agent. Dropping later this year….". Nike has not yet released official images, pricing, or a release date.
We can see from the picture the silhouette features a white upper, Lakers' gold Swoosh logos and Nike Air branding, purple detailing, and an embossed Sheath logo on the lateral sides.
Of course, Bryant eventually signed with Nike after his glorious sneaker free-agency season. During his time with the Swoosh, the Nike Air Force 1 was one of his favorite lifestyle sneakers for casual use (although he did hoop in them at Rucker Park in the Summer of 2002.)
With the "Kobe Brand" officially relaunched and hitting its stride, it should become increasingly easy for fans to finally purchase some gear of the Lakers legend. Stay locked into FanNationKicks.com for all your sneaker news from the sports world.
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