Kobe Bryant entered the NBA in 1996 as the 13th pick of the NBA Draft, and wasted little time in becoming a sneaker icon. Despite limited playing time and only averaging 7.6 points his rookie season, he won the NBA Slam Dunk contest that year, immortalizing the Adidas EQT Elevation in the process—a fine sneaker, but one that would likely be a footnote in Adidas Basketball history if not for its presence on the shooting shirt-clad Bryant as he captured the crown in 1997.
The following season, Bryant’s first signature was introduced: the Adidas KB8, now known as the Crazy 8. It marked the true beginning of the first of two distinct eras in his footwear journey: one headlining Adidas Basketball and the next with Nike, with a free agency intermission that might be the most interesting part of it all.
Throughout Bryant’s sneaker history, we’ve seen a little bit of everything: highs and lows (figurative and literal), limited collaborations and widely available team shoes, and inspirations both mechanical and organic. His footwear has had an industry-wide influence that’s continued even after his passing.
Anecdotes of designers, model variations, and exclusive releases add up to an incredibly dense sneaker history. This quiz will test how well you really know Kobe’s sneakers—it’s going to take the relentless drive he was famous for to get all these answers right. Do you have Mamba Mentality? Find out by taking this impossible Kobe sneaker quiz.
