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One of the most consistent lines in sneaker history is the Nike Kobe line. The Kobe line found its identity with the release of the Kobe IV and has maintained a similar look ever since the release of that shoe. Earlier this week, Nike unveiled Kobe’s latest sneaker, which is his first post-retirement. What others would have called the Kobe 12, the new sneaker is named the KOBE AD. AD, of course, stands for after death.
STYLE
Since the Kobe line is based around improving the last shoe, so the KOBE AD looks really similar to the KOBE 11. It’s low cut, and has a clean, simple design. An embroidered DNA strand has been added to the heel of the shoe, which makes this shoe the ideal shoe to wear to a Biology or Genetics class.
PERFORMANCE
As far as performance goes, this shoe will be very similar to other low cut shoes in the Nike Kobe line. This is because the Nike Kobe line is built on perfecting the existing technology. The KOBE AD has a similar silhouette to previous Kobe shoes, maintains clean lines, and is aerodynamic. Nike’s goal with this line is not to compromise comfort and stability for lightweight sneakers, but rather to combine all three for a well balanced shoe.
The Mamba Mentality lives on. Introducing the #KobeAD. #NikeBasketball pic.twitter.com/0o57IxprIO
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) November 1, 2016
OVERALL OPINION
Okay, let’s be real. This is the KOBE AD; AD as in AFTER DEATH. I understand the goal of this sneaker was to improve on the last shoe in the Kobe line, and I get that its supposedly more breathable, more responsive, and lighter weight. However the way this shoe looks doesn’t speak AFTER DEATH to me, it says “Biology is cool”. Anyway, if you’re interested in purchasing this sneaker it is set to release on November 21st and will be priced at $160.