Nike Renews Alliance With Vanessa Bryant To Honor Kobe, Giga, Inspire Young Athletes
Friday, March 25, 2022 at 05:26PM By Barry Janoff
March 26, 2022: Following months of negotiations, Nike has unveiled a collaboration with the family of the late Kobe Bryant and a partnership with Vanessa Bryant to “inspire a new generation of athletes and encourage youth participation in sport.”
The renewed alliance will see the re-release of previous and development of new Kobe Bryant kicks, the establishment of a youth basketball center in Southern California to honor Kobe and his daughter Gianna, and Nike and the Bryant family “continuing to outfit the NBA and WNBA athletes who carry the legacy of the Mamba Mentality.”
Bryant, Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.
A partner with Nike during his NBA career, the contract between Kobe Bryant and Nike expired last April.
“I am happy to announce that we will continue my husband's legacy with Nike and look forward to expanding his and Gigi's global impact by sharing the Mamba Mentality with youth athletes for generations to come,” Vanessa Bryant said via Nike and posted to social media.
“I’m so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world.”
According to Vanessa Bryant, “With this new partnership, fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike product for years to come and with Nike donating 100% of the net proceeds yearly for Gianna’s shoes to our Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
“I know this is an inspiring moment for my husband and daughter’s global fans and I am very appreciative for each and every one of you.”
Nike said the first new shoe from the partnership, the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16', would honor Gigi Bryant — with a potential release date of May 1 to coincide with what would have been her 16th birthday — as part of a Gigi Bryant shoe series.
All proceeds from the shoe will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Nike said plans include the re-release of the 11 signature shoe worn by Bryant during his career and possibly the six shoes release following his retirement after the 2015-16 season.
As part of the new partnership, Vanessa and Nike said they would work together to "establish a youth basketball center in Southern California and Nike and the Bryant family will continue to outfit the NBA and WNBA athletes who carry the legacy of the Mamba Mentality."
“Kobe Bryant means so much to so many of us, not just NBA fans but globally beyond the game,” John Donahoe, Nike president and CEO, said via the company.
“His impact in growing the sport, particularly encouraging women and young people to pick it up, endures as one of his deepest, lasting legacies. Together with Vanessa, we hope to honor Kobe and Gigi by championing a new generation for many years to come.”
More than two years after his untimely death, Kobe Bryant — recently named to the NBA’s All-Time 75th Anniversary Team — played a significant role during the league’s 75th Anniversary Season All-Star Game in Cleveland on Feb. 20.
The WNBA named Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns 12-time All-Star guard, the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award “for his significant contributions to the advancement of girls’ and women’s basketball, and advocacy for the WNBA.”
The WNBA and Vanessa Bryant presented Paul with the award prior to the NBA All-Star Game.
After the All-Star Game, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was named MVP and awarded the redesigned Kobe Bryant MVP trophy (renamed after Bryant beginning with the 2020 All-Star Game).
He also plays a large role in NBA 75th Anniversary marketing, including a segment in the campaign’s anchor spot, “NBA Lane,” in which a school bus driven by actor Michael B. Jordan and filled with kids learning about NBA history stops in front of wall with artwork dedicated to Bryant.
“Some things are bigger than basketball,” says Jordan.
Behind the bus is a car driven by Devin Booker of the Suns, who salutes the Kobe memorial.
Kobe Has Major Presence During 2022 All-Star Game
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