As Kobe Bryant’s final game and the release of the commemorative “Mamba Day” Kobe 11 Elite iD approached, we look back at notable NIKEiD Kobe designs created for Kobe and other players. These custom releases highlight the collaboration between athletes, designers and fans, resulting in memorable colorways and game-worn editions.
Nike Zoom Kobe V “Kid Hollywood” iD
Significance: In spring 2014 Nike ran a Kobe V iD contest that drew many fan submissions. The winning “Kid Hollywood” design, created by Jason Hamilton, was personally selected by Kobe. He wore the pair in games, and the shoes also appeared on court with teammates such as Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom.
Made Available: March 2010
Colorway: White / Court Purple / Yellow – Metallic Silver
Worn By: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom
Nike Kobe 8 ‘J.R. Smith’ iD
Significance: J.R. Smith became one of the first Nike athletes to use the Nike iD Player Edition. He received a custom Kobe 8 System in New York Knicks colors for on-court wear.
Made Available: November 2013
Colorway: Royal Blue / White – Total Orange
Worn By: J.R. Smith
Nike Kobe 8 SS iD Nick Young
Significance: Nike Basketball produced a Kobe 8 iD featuring the “Shedding Skin” option for Nick Young. He wore this pair during a game in which he scored a season-high 28 points in the 2013–14 season.
Made Available: January 2014
Colorway: Tour Yellow / Del Sol / Court Purple – White
Worn By: Nick Young
Nike Kobe 8 #CountOnKobeiD
Significance: NikeiD launched a Twitter-driven #COUNTONKOBEiD contest, similar to the earlier Kobe V campaign. Kobe selected the winning design, which drew from the Lakers’ home colorways. He wore the shoes during a game against the Chicago Bulls in the 2012–13 season.
Made Available: March 2013
Colorway: White / Court Purple / Tour Yellow – Del Sol
Worn By: Kobe Bryant
Nike Kobe 9 Elite “Mamba Moment” iD
Significance: To honor Kobe passing Michael Jordan on the NBA all-time scoring list and becoming the third-leading scorer in league history, Nike produced a special Kobe 9 Elite Low dubbed the “Mamba Moment.” The design celebrated that milestone both visually and symbolically.
Made Available: December 2014
Colorway: Green / Purple – Gold
Worn By: Kobe Bryant
Nike Kobe X Elite “Grinch” iD
Significance: Before the Kobe X iD was discontinued, Nike created a “Grinch” Kobe X iD that Kobe wore on Christmas Day. The colorway echoed the Grinch-inspired Kobe VI that the Lakers lineup had worn years earlier.
Made Available: December 2015
Colorway: Volt / White – Red
Worn By: Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson
Nike Kobe 11 Elite “Color Shift: Day” iD
Significance: For DeMar DeRozan’s second All-Star appearance, NikeiD produced a Kobe 11 Elite using the “Color Shift: Day” option. The Flyknit upper fades from darker to lighter hues starting at the toe, creating a distinctive gradient look.
Made Available: February 2016
Colorway: Multi-Color
Worn By: DeMar DeRozan
Nike Kobe 11 Elite “Mamba Day” iD
Significance: To mark Kobe’s final game, NIKEiD released the “Mamba Day” Kobe 11 Elite iD. The design incorporated graphics that reference eight defining career milestones and stats—81-point single-game scoring, 18 All-Star selections, his first and final game dates (11.01.96 and 4.13.16), five NBA championships, four All-Star MVP awards, a 20-year career and his iconic jersey number 24.
Made Available: April 13, 2016
Colorway: Black / Gold
Worn By: DeMar DeRozan and Kobe Bryant (in his final game)