A lot happened during the final full week of the regular season. Russell Westbrook set the record for most triple-doubles in NBA history. Kobe Bryant, along with Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, were shrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Steph Curry made a final MVP push by claiming his second scoring title. The brackets are officially set for the inaugural play-in tournament. NBA players all over the league were showing love for Kobe by wearing his signature sneakers the night he got inducted into the Hall of Fame. Blake Griffin wore a hilarious P.E. version Jordan XXXV based on one of his favorite movies. LeBron James brought the Nipsey vibes to his 18 low model. P.J. Tucker was, well, P.J. Tucker. Let’s just get right into it, here’s to week 21 of Kicks Through the Lens.

10. Jordan Why Not Zer0.4 P.E. – Russell Westbrook

9. Adidas Harden Vol. 5 P.E. – James Harden

8. Nike Kobe 1 “Think 16 (Close Out)” – Julius Randle

7. Nike KD 4 “Christmas” – Ja Morant

6. Jordan XXXV P.E. – Mike Conley Jr.

5. Nike LeBron 18 Low P.E. – LeBron James

4. Nike Kobe 6 Protro P.E. – Anthony Davis

3. 2014 Nike Kobe 8 “Year of the Horse” – DeMar DeRozan

2. Jordan XXXV “McGriffin (McLovin)” P.E. – Blake Griffin

1. Jordan 12 (Ray Allen P.E.) – P.J. Tucker

We have reached week 20 of the 2020-21 NBA regular season. The playoffs start in a little over a week. Players are leaving all they have left out on the court. This past week we saw P.J. Tucker yet again come with the heat. Ja Morant opted for a non-Kobe shoe for the first time in awhile. Luka Dončić sported two head-turning colorways of some Jordan XXXV low P.E.’s. One of the most popular KD models saw a return to the hardwood. Tobias Harris rocked a new P.E. Kobe Protro. Rajon Rondo continues to keep us guessing with his on-court sneaker selections. Scroll below to see what the last week of the regular season had to offer for this week’s Kicks Through the Lens.

10. 2016 Nike Huarache 2K4 – Rajon Rondo

9. Jordan XXXV Low P.E. – Luka Dončić

8. 2014 Nike KD 6 “Brazil” – Jaden McDaniels

7. 2016 Nike Kobe 3 “Fade to Black” – Malik Monk

6. Nike KD 4 – P.J. Tucker

5. Jordan XXXV Low “Orange Flood” P.E. – Obi Toppin

4. Nike Kobe 6 Protro P.E. – Tobias Harris

3. Nike Kyrie 4 “Lucky Charms” – Ja Morant

2. Jordan 3 “Pit Crew” Sample – P.J. Tucker

1. Jordan XXXV Low “Cosmic Deception” P.E. – Luka Dončić

Might as well rename this list, “The Sneakers P.J. Tucker Wore On-Court This Week.” The Milwaukee Bucks veteran just continues to not play fair and puts every other NBA payer to shame when it comes to this sneaker scene. From vintage LeBron samples, older KD samples, Jordan Brand PE’s from the early 2000’s, and Jordan samples/college PE’s – P.J. straight up took over our countdown this week. LeBron James returned to action sporting a new colorway of his Nike LeBron 18 lows. Kevin Durant rocked a new iteration of his newly debuted KD 14 model. Kawhi Leonard debuted what looks like is his second signature sneaker with New Balance. Scroll below to see just how many spots P.J. Tucker took out of this weeks Kicks Through the Lens.

10. Nike KD 14 – Kevin Durant

9. New Balance KAWHI 2 – Kawhi Leonard

8. Li-Ning Speed 7 P.E. – Fred Vanvleet

7. Jordan XXX5 “Houston” P.E. – P.J. Tucker

6. Nike LeBron 18 Low P.E. – LeBron James

5. Jordan 6 “Tim Howard P.E.” (Only 30 pairs made) – P.J. Tucker

4. Nike KD 4 “Wanda Pratt” P.E. Sample – P.J. Tucker

3. Nike LeBron 2 “Maple” Sample – P.J. Tucker

2. Jordan 12 “Gary Payton Lakers P.E.” – P.J. Tucker

1. Jordan 13 “Oregon” P.E. – P.J. Tucker

P.J. Tucker flat out brought the heat this past week. Unreleased samples, rare player exclusives, older obscure models – you name it. Zion Williamson debuted his first signature shoe with Jordan Brand, the Jordan Zion 1. Zion joins the likes of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Derek Jeter, and Dwyane Wade to all have (or had) signature sneakers under Jordan Brand. Kyrie Irving sported one of the best Kyrie 7 colorways we have seen to date. One current Jordan Brand athlete, who may get his own signature in the future, rocked possibly the best low top color scheme we’ve seen grace the XXXV’s. Two Laker players rounded out the list while wearing some Kobe 6 Protros. Scroll below to see which sneakers made up our Kicks Through the Lens for week 18 of the NBA season.

10. Nike Zoom Freak 2 “Alphabet Soup” P.E. – Giannis Antetokounmpo

9. Adidas D Rose 11 – Derrick Rose

8. Jordan Zion 1 “Noah” – Zion Williamson

7. Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Del Sol” – Talen Horton-Tucker

6. Nike Hyperdunk 2010 “McFly” Sample – P.J. Tucker

5. Nike Kobe 6 Protro P.E. – Anthony Davis

4. Nike Kyrie 7 “Concepts” – Kyrie Irving

3. 2011 Jordan XIII “Ray Allen P.E.” – P.J. Tucker

2. Jordan XXXV “Rainbow Sorbet” P.E. – Luka Dončić

1. 2012 Nike LeBron 9 “What The” Sample – P.J. Tucker

The sneaker world was hit with a bombshell last week as it was announced that Nike would not be extending the late Kobe Bryant’s contract amidst the deal ending earlier in the month. Vanessa Bryant had been growing increasingly frustrated with the brand and how they have been releasing her husband’s products over the past year plus. It not only seems, but is in fact nearly impossible, to get your hands on any Kobe Protro release these days. Vanessa wanted her husband’s sneaker line to be more accessible for the masses and to see the Nike Kobe line everywhere, both on adults and kids. No one can just walk into a Foot Locker anymore and buy a Kobe 4, 5, or 6 right off the shelf like they could back in 2009, 2010, 2011, etc. Nike has given all-time greats Michael Jordan and LeBron James lifetime contracts and that is something that Vanessa and the Kobe Bryant Estate also sought. For some reason Nike just didn’t extend that offer and that is when Vanessa Bryant figured the two parties would be better off if they parted ways. There has been numerous speculations that the Kobe Bryant Estate will go off and explore other ventures, including starting their own “Mamba” sports brand. One thing’s for sure, the basketball world without any Nike Kobe models in it just won’t be the same.

Similar to what we did last year with ranking LeBron’s 17 signature sneakers, we will now do with the Nike Kobe line and his 11 signature shoes with the brand. As everyone knows, Kobe’s NBA career first started out with being an Adidas endorser and he even had a few signature shoes with The Three Stripes. The Black Mamba signed with The Swoosh in the early/mid-2000’s and would get his own signature sneaker with the brand for the 2005-06 season. Kobe’s sneaker line would really pop off with the release of his Kobe 4’s for the 2008-09 campaign. It was the first Kobe shoe to feature flywire as well as a low top design. Although NBA players had been playing in low tops long before this model came out, it is this iteration that gets credit for the mass of players gravitating towards a lower cut on-court sneaker.

Our 11-sneaker list has a few criteria that went into it. Each sneaker on the list has to be a signature Kobe model that he himself wore on-court. In addition to that, each selection has to either be a GR colorway or at least released to the public in some form. If Kobe didn’t wear it on-court and if they didn’t at one point release to the public, then you won’t see it featured in this list. With that being said, here is the ranking of Kobe Bryant’s 11 signature sneakers with Nike.

1. Nike Kobe 6 (2010-11)

2. Nike Kobe 8 (2012-13)

3. Nike Kobe 9 (2013-14)

4. Nike Kobe 5 (2009-10)

5. Nike Kobe 4 (2008-09)

6. Nike Kobe 1 (2005-06)

7. Nike Kobe 10 (2014-15)

8. Nike Kobe 11 (2015-16)

9. Nike Kobe 7 (2011-12)

10. Nike Kobe 3 (2007-08)

11. Nike Kobe 2 (2006-07)