Nike

When Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA at 17 years old, he did not celebrate with an elaborate draft party. Instead, Bryant reportedly went to the gym. 17 years later, when he tore his achilles, Kobe was not carried off the court by his teammates. With a face displaying agony, he instead hobbled to the free throw line and made both shots, touching nothing but net.  

The Kobe A.D. was the first sneaker from the Kobe line to be released after Bryant’s retirement in 2016. 

This pair, created in 2017, is a sample pair from the Nike customization line, NikeID. Rumored to have been created to test the cork material used on the shoe, this pair was produced in extremely limited quantities. When the Nike A.D. was made available on NikeID, the cork material was not offered to the public. 

On the interior of the shoe, Kobe. A.D. is stitched into the left tongue, and Champs is featured on the right. 

• NikeID "Kobe A.D Sample."
• Sample pair featuring cork material.
• Style number: 921529 
• Color code: 994
• This item is final sale and not eligible for return.