NBA Players Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant With Sneakers

Players across the NBA honored Kobe Bryant by writing messages on their sneakers, many from Bryant's shoe line.

As games were played in the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's death on Sunday, players paid tribute to the late NBA legend with their sneakers. 

Throughout his 20-year career, Bryant was an icon in the sneaker industry. Bryant signed an endorsement with Adidas once he was out of high school, but pivoted to Nike in 2003. His sneaker line is one of the top in basketball history, and many active NBA players continue to wear his signature designs.

Many players wore shoes from Bryant's line and wrote messages on them in tribute on Sunday. The entire Pelicans roster also wore Kobe Bryant sneakers for the national anthem, regardless of their endorsement affiliation.

Bryant was one of nine people who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, along with his daughter Gianna and Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli. The Laker great was 41 years old.

These are some of the sneaker tributes NBA players paid to Bryant and Gianna.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart wears shoes honoring the late Kobe Bryant before a game against the Boston Celtics.

It's another example of local athletes making tributes to the NBA superstar. MORE: https://t.co/u1p9eBAUyX pic.twitter.com/wq6JAdJ3ic

— PelicansNOW (@PelicansNOW) January 26, 2020

Montrezl Harrell : 19 points on 7-15 shooting & 5 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench pic.twitter.com/ev9ta3eLoX

— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) January 27, 2020

What stunning images... Hawks Trae Young.. honoring Kobe Bryant.. Wearing #8 pic.twitter.com/0ogNvrMuUV

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) January 26, 2020

Marcus Morris and Julius Randle write messages for Kobe on their shoes tonight

(via @MikeVorkunov) pic.twitter.com/prfRfBFZWO

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 26, 2020

Sneaker tributes to Kobe Bryant across the NBA tonight 💜 pic.twitter.com/T2661mU4Lh

— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) January 27, 2020

pic.twitter.com/77Ic4eGtqc

— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) January 27, 2020

More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:

• Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in California Helicopter Crash
• For the Bryant Family, An Unimaginable Loss
• Kobe Bryant Left His Mark as a Generational Hero
• Sports World Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
• Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years
• Spurs-Raptors Open Game With Shot Clock Violations to Honor Kobe
  
• Shaq Reflects on Kobe's Passing: "There’s No Words to Express the Pain"