A release date of Jan. 9, 2016 was reported back in August, but a source told Sporting News that we can expect to see the Kobe 11 drop sometime in mid-December, about a week or so after the official launch of Kyrie Irving’s next signature sneaker, the Kyrie 2.
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It’s unclear whether the Kobe 11 will release at that time or if that’s simply when it will be unveiled, but it’s an accelerated timetable for the Kobe line nonetheless. The Kobe 10 was released on February 7, and while going less than a year between signature releases is certainly unusual, these are unusual times.
Bryant is likely playing in his final NBA season, and considering the fact that his body is breaking down to the point where he’s already missing time, the brand may have wanted to get his next signature sneaker on his feet as quickly as possible. It’s the last chance for Bryant to influence sneaker sales via his on-court presence, and it would make sense to roll out the Kobe 11 as soon as it’s ready, before there’s a chance of any additional injuries taking place.
There have been rumors that famed Air Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield was tapped to design the Kobe 11, which would be exciting because of his long history of success in creating many of Jordan Brand’s most iconic silhouettes. The fact that no pictures of the Kobe 11 have leaked yet may be a further indication of Hatfield’s involvement, as the folks at Jordan Brand have done an outstanding job in recent years of keeping things under wraps until they’ve been ready to officially unveil a new design themselves.
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