Italy may be the European country that the Philly born Los Angeles Laker legend Kobe Bryant was raised, but he spent some of his days in the Spanish city of Barcelona too.
And now the greatest player the NBA has ever seen not named Magic or Mike has retired he won’t stop like Basketball or Jordan’s when it comes to his Nike trainers. His latest range of Elite 11 ‘Mambacurial’ sneakers kicking it with soccer.
Following in the cleat steps of his Brazil carnival ready last ‘curials, that joined the Rio 2016 Olympic party come the Barcelona’s. And in dark red and blue that Spider-Man would be proud of these yellow trimmed court slingers may be Kobe and Nike’s most classic composition since the Beethoven or what could have been Charlotte colorways. But from Turkish Airline partner Lionel Messi to their Spanish sister basketball team these new Kobe’s are for F.C. Barcelona.
And Pau.
The Kobe Elite Lows, especially the 11’s (note the number) look like soccer shoes anyway…so it’s only fitting these Bara soles are part of the uniform collection. Not to plug or to pun but rocking these Nikes really feel like walking on air, so you know that the best line since Jordan’s can toe the one between basketball and football.
Add some studs and you could see these kicks in the Nou Camp come new season. But you know Barca’s best will wear them off the floor too. Also, now none of Messi’s Kobe competing, city-to-city selfies will be complete without what’s on his feet. And when it comes to Kobe Bryant’s extended European family, you know his Gasol brother has to be sent a pair. It’s the least for his feet following his hand of Basketball God’s punch gave a struggling Spanish side the Olympic Bronze for their nation out in South America this Summer.
These latest colourways are available to rock come the end of the week on September 8th. And the navy and crimson, black and orange trimmed Barcelona has us singing its praises in opera house tones like Queen’s late, great Freddie Mercury. Fit for a King, even LeBron has to give it up for the new Kobe’s. The capital city of Catalonia in the Kingdom of Spain will never look the same. Now Las Ramblas is really going to have the colour of the city walking down it.
Even if those steps belong to someone bouncing the ball in a whole different way.
