On Thursday, Nike announced the release of the Nike Kobe 8, their newest “Protro” model.
In two weeks, the shoe will be available in a white iteration named “Halo” in tribute to Kobe Bryant, a late basketball great. “imagined and created the Halo shoe concept and launch to honor Kobe’s birthday each year,” Nike said of Vanessa Bryant. To celebrate the anniversary, this idea will be made available once a year.
The original Kobe 8 debuted in 2012. The “Mamba” emblem will be stitched on the tongue, and the shoe’s React foam midsole will add to the wearer’s comfort. Nike claims that the shoe’s underfoot grip has also been improved.
The Protro series now includes the Kobe 8 model.Protro is a process whereby select iterations of previous Kobe sneakers are updated with new materials and technology while maintaining the “same iconic look.”Since Bryant’s contract with Nike ended in April 2021, this will be the first Kobe-branded product to Һit shelves since then. To ensure that Bryant’s legacy lives on, Nike and his estate signed a new multi-year contract in early 2022.
via August 23, the Nike Kobe 8 Protro in the ‘Halo’ colorway will be available via the SNKRS app and at select retailers across the world.
Wade or LeBron? Heat executive makes his choice for Miami’s greatest player
A new class of Basketball Hall of Famers will be inducted on October 5 in Springfield, Massachusetts. This year’s class is one for the ages, with luminaries like Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Gregg Popovich, and WNBA veteran Becky Hammon all being inducted.
This year’s group also includes Dwyane Wade, a former NBA player who won three titles during his 16-year career with the Miami Heat and averaged 22 points per game. Pat Riley, CEO for the Miami Heat, said on Tuesday that Dwyane Wade is the team’s greatest player, surpassing even LeBron James, with whom Wade won two NBA championships, thanks to his 14 years of service in Miami.Reasons exist in Riley’s mind.On a conference call with media on Friday, Riley (himself a Hall of Famer) discussed why Dwyane Wade is the franchise’s greatest player ever in Miami.
“As a Heat player, Dwyane is the greatest player who ever put on our uniform,” Riley declared. While here for four years, LeBron provided us a huge boost and paved the way for Dwyane to accomplish his goals. But Dwyane is the best player in Heat history when considering his overall body of work. That’s not meant as a slight towards LeBron; it’s just a reflection of how long he’s been around compared to how briefly LeBron was in Cleveland.
After only four years together, Wade and LeBron were reunited on the same squad in 2017. All four years that Wade, James, and Chris Bosh were on the Heat, the team reached the NBA Finals and won the championship in 2012 and 2013.
NBA scoring leader James has since added two more titles to his resume, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers and another with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Jordan-like” Wade nearly didn’t suit up for the Dolphins.In the same press conference, Riley compared Wade to Michael Jordan, citing the fact that both were selected fifth overall in the now-iconic 2003 NBA Draft. Riley, a nine-time NBA champion, has seen very few scorers with the same explosive first step and ability to twist his way to the rim as Wade.However, the Heat’s selection of Wade in the 2003 NBA draft was far from assured. If the Toronto Raptors had taken Wade with the fourth pick, Miami likely would have taken Bosh in the draft instead (before signing him in free agency in 2010).Riley is thankful he had the chance to choose his man 20 years ago, even though the NBA may have been different if Wade had begun his career in Canada.
“I love (Wade) to deаth,” Riley declared. When I see him, we always have a long conversation and a great hug.