Watch DeMar DeRozan Choose Between Kobe Sneakers
No former NBA player had a bigger impact on the current generation of hoopers than the late-great Kobe Bryant. Of course, DeMar DeRozan is one of the biggest acolytes of the Los Angeles Lakers legend.
The Southern California native grew up in the shadow of Staples Center and modeled his game after Bryant. Additionally, DeRozan has become the de facto torchbearer of Bryant's signature sneaker line with Nike.
Before last night's game between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, fans got a brief video of DeRozan choosing between sneakers during his pregame warmups. The 6x NBA All-Star chose between at least a half-dozen rare kicks that were laid out for him on the court.
DeRozan eventually decided on playing in the Nike Kobe AD Mid in an unreleased player-exclusive colorway. The shoes were released in 2017, a year after Bryant's retirement from the NBA. Below is everything fans must know about the model.
Nike Kobe AD Mid
A detailed look at DeMar DeRozan's shoes.
© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Nike Kobe AD Mid was launched in four colorways in August 2017. The performance basketball shoes never had the impact of Bryant's other shoes because of their mid-cut design and fans' desire for retro models at that time.
However, the shoes had a retail price of $150. Even better, they are some of the more affordable options from the Nike Kobe line on the sneaker resale market to this day. There are countless rare colorways in circulation thanks to the Nike iD customization option that was still available at the time.
We at FanNation Kicks have discussed the current state of the Nike Kobe line ad nauseam over the past few months. While there are plenty of releases scheduled throughout this year, we are going to maintain cautious optimism until every fan who can afford a pair of Kobe sneakers can get their hands on them.
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