Nike Air Force 1 Kobe Bryant HV5122-001

2024 has been a massive year for Kobe Bryant shoes, with some the Mabma’s most beloved Nike signatures in the Kobe 4 and Kobe 8 returning in their most memorable colorways. As we approach the end of the year, the Beaverton brand is moving from the court to the lifestyle niche with two Kobe-inspired Air Force 1s. Hot on the heels of the white colorway, the black alternate just surfaced via official images.

The gallery below reveals that the shoe is limited to just 8,000 pairs as a nod to Kobe’s first NBA jersey number, each of which is marked by a tag on the insoles. Consistent with our first look, the design begins with a black leather upper featuring all-over, debossed Kobe Bryant logos. The Swoosh comes in Lakers gold with a purple border, while the left and right backtabs work in an “8” and more Kobe branding, respectively.

To the uninitiated; the white colorway is based off an Air Force 1 PE Kobe wore when he was a sneaker free agent during the 2002-2003 NBA season. This alternate black style is entirely fresh, drawing its primary appeal from its limited nature.

The black “Kobe Bryant” Air Force 1 doesn’t have a confirmed date, but is likely to release alongside the white colorway on December 5th. Expect to pay $150 if you catch a W on Nike SNKRS.

Written by

Andrew Rizzo, Junior Editor

Andrew Rizzo is an editor at Sneaker News based out of New York City. His primary interests include Air Jordan, Nike ACG, Nike Air Max, and New Balance footwear. Prior to joining Sneaker News, Andrew covered youth sports for several outlets and worked at one of the world’s top performance marketing agencies. He hails from Astoria, Queens and is a huge New York sports fan, particularly when it comes to the Knicks and Yankees.