How Did Bruce Lee Inspire Kobe Bryant? The Story Behind the Genesis of Most Unique Sneakers to Come Out of Nikes Collaboration With the Legend

Kobe Bryant’s legacy extends far beyond the football court. Away from his on-court antics, Kobe reached his audience through the many innovative sneaker lines. The Nike Zoom Kobe 6 ‘Grinch‘, Nike Kobe 1 ’81 Points’, and Nike Zoom Kobe 5 ‘Chaos‘ among others have carried it on. But one particular sneaker stood out for its unique inspiration and cultural significance and continues to remain so. 

Bryant’s signature shoe line with Nike began in 2003 but it was the Nike Zoom Kobe 5, which was released in 2010, that truly captured the imagination of sneaker enthusiasts and martial art fans alike. Let’s see how the late Lakers legend found the inspiration behind this shoe.

Kobe Bryant’s inspiration for the release of Nike Zoom Kobe 5 

“I’ve read everything he’s ever written. I’ve watched every film he’s ever been in, and I’ve watched pretty much every interview he’s ever done,” Bryant had said of Bruce Lee to South China Morning Post. The Hong Kong-American actor and martial artist, who brought about a shift in the combination of the two, would be gone (1973) long before the Lakers icon was born. But his principles in self-improvement and the likes stuck with Bryant as evident. 

The 5x champion was so inspired by Lee that he even started taking Jeet Kune Do lessons, which was the main action style of the late martial artist. Years later, this love and respect translated into the creation of one of the best sports sneakers.

In 2010, to pay homage to the late artist, the Black Mamba got together with Nike to create the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 ‘Bruce Lee‘. The sneaker followed a Black and yellow color scheme with red claw marks on the side. The black and yellow reference was taken from Lee’s attire in the movie “Game of Death” whereas the claw mark reference was taken from the movie “Enter the Dragon”. 

To promote the release of the shoe, Nike and Bryant replicated vintage Lee posters. It went on to become one of the most popular Kobe shoes. They became the inspiration behind former Cleveland Cavaliers player Kyrie Irving’s signature line of shoes known as the “Mamba Mentality,” and were also adorned by Caitlin Clark during the 2024 March Madness. The Nike Kobe 5 ‘Bruce Lee’ edition was re-released in 2020 as a Protro version for $180.

But this doesn’t end here! There’s some really good news for the sneakerheads who are into Kobe shoes.

New Kobe Bryant shoe to drop next year

In there newest release for the Kobe line, Nike will be dropping the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Sail”. This upcoming sneaker is a “Performance Retro” re-release of the 2010 iconic Kobe 6 shoes, which were innovative during the time of their release for incorporating “snake scale” like texture.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Sail”’s color scheme follows a blend of the colors black, light bone, white, and platinum violet. These shoes are officially scheduled to be released on February 15, 2025, and will be available in both online and offline stores.

The Kobe 6 shoes, which were released back in 2010, were well coveted by the fans at that time and a re-release of this iconic shoe is expected to continue the trend. So plan out early!

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.