words // Brandon Richard
When asked what school he would have attended had he not chosen to forego college eligibility, Kobe Bryant says that playing under Mike Krzyzewski at the University of Duke would have been the choice. As an indirect salute to his Team USA coach and his would-be alma mater, Kobe’s signature Nike basketball shoes have been treated to a designated “Duke” colorway in recent years, the latest version now available for you to take home.
The “Duke” Nike Kobe VII features no school logos, but pays homage to the Durham-based University through the use of color. A mixture of Treasure Blue and black is used on the shoe’s synthetic upper, with contrasting white hits working the Swoosh logos, Shozoku on the tongue and heel counter. White and black handle the midsole, while a black and blue rubber outsole finish off the look below.
You can grab these new Kobe shoes from Eastbay today.
Available: Nike Kobe VII – Duke
Non herringbone traction?
maybe it’s a sample version.
Early sample indeed!
I like the look of these, the colors go well with the design.
He also said in an interview a few years back that he would have gone to UNC. Might want to change the title of this link.
There’s no need to change the title – this is a Duke-inspired colorway for the school Kobe would have attended.
Often times Duke fans wonder if Kobe Bryant had not gone directly to the NBA out of high school if he “maybe” would have attended Duke and been a part of that team.
“There’s no maybe about it,” Bryant says. “Every time I turn on the TV and see Cameron Indoor Stadium, see everybody in Krzyzewskiville and see the Crazies jumping up in down with the intensity and the building almost shaking, I wonder what it would have been like to play there with Corey [Maggette] and Elton [Brand] and all those guys.”