The Adidas Kobe models have a new life. Check it out on this episode of Special Delivery.
Many people don’t know this, but Kobe Bryant was once a signature shoe athlete with Adidas.
Most people don’t know that because the models aren’t looked at too fondly across the board. For good reason. They’re big, boxy and clunky. They’re just generally not thought to be as good as the models Bryant produced with Nike.
But there’s still a nostalgia that comes with them that has made them charming in recent years. Things have turned around a bit. Now, Adidas wants to tap into that.
According to data from eBay’s sneaker department, the Kobe 1 signature model the new Crazy Infinity 2.5 is modeled after is one of the most searched Adidas Kobe sneakers on the platform by volume so far in 2023. Three of the top seven models are all Kobe 1s.
That growing popularity is why Adidas is tapping into that with the new Crazy Infinity 2.5. The brand completely transformed Bryant’s old signature sneaker into something completely different. Fans are absolutely loving it so far.
On this episode of Special Delivery, we tap into why. Check it out.
Before registering an appearance in the NBA All-Star game with the Washington Wizards, Antawn Jamison developed into a budding pro with the Golden State Warriors.
During his five-season stint in Golden State, the former No. 4 overall pick out of North Carolina averaged 20.2 points on 45.4% shooting from the field with 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and one steal per game.
With a steady list of impressive performances in the Bay Area on Jamison’s resume, his battle against future NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant might be at the top.
December 6, 2000
Coming off a loss to the Seattle Supersonics where he scored a career-high 51 points, Jamison wasn’t going to let another performance like that go to waste, even if it was against Bryant and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Picking up where he left off against the Sonics, Jamison notched 19 points in the first half to give Golden State a 62-57 lead at halftime. While Jamison was cooking in the first 24 minutes, Bryant wasn’t far behind him, scoring 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the first half.
While Jamison added another 12 points to his total, Bryant exploded for 17 points in the third quarter alone. Bryant’s scorching third quarter pushed the Lakers to a 10 point lead heading into the final quarter.
With 12 minutes remaining, Jamison struck back, recording another 12 points to lead Golden State’s fourth-quarter comeback. With 41 points at the final buzzer, Jamison was able to push Bryant and the Lakers into an overtime period with the score locked at 107.
In overtime, Bryant and Jamison traded heavyweight power punches. However, with the help of Larry Hughes and Bob Sura, Golden State was able to seal the upset victory at the Arena in Oakland, 125-122.
For the second consecutive game, Jamison finished with 51 points on 21-of-29 shooting from the field with 13 boards, five assists, two steals and a block in 53 minutes. Bryant matched Jamison with 51 points on 18-of-35 shooting with eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 51 minutes.
On Instagram, Klay Thompson shared a photo of his signed copy of ‘Mamba Mentality’ with the message Kobe Bryant left for him.
As the NBA is set to restart the season in Orlando, 22 teams across the league are preparing to return to action. However, with the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Golden State Warriors will be staying in the Bay Area.
With Golden State’s season officially over, Klay Thompson is starting the offseason with a book.
On his Instagram, Thompson shared a photo of his signed copy of Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality: How I Play.” Inside the book, Bryant left a message for Thompson reading, “rings rings rings rings.” Thompson called the book “the greatest gift” he’s ever received.
On the court, Thompson is working his way back from injury. Golden State general manager told reporters there’d been “no setback” in Thompson’s recovery. The five-time All-Star gave a behind-the-scenes look at his knee rehab with a short documentary chronicling his return from injury.
For “Throwback Thursday,” Klay Thompson shared a past photo of him participating in Kobe Bryant’s high school skills academy.
For a new edition of “Throwback Thursday,” Klay Thompson shared a memorable moment from his high school basketball experience on social media. The Golden State Warriors shooting guard posted four photos to Instagram from his time at Kobe Bryant’s skills academy.
In the opening photo, Thompson is sitting down to listen to Bryant speak with a group of players, including San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan.
The five-time All-Star also shared a snippet from the camp’s roster that included his current backcourt running mate Stephen Curry. Wayne Ellington and Lance Stephenson are also listed as camp participants along with former NBA forward turned professional beach volleyball player, Chase Budinger.
In the final photo, Thompson posted a picture of him and Bryant shaking hands after a Warriors game against the Lakers.
In the caption, the three-time champion labeled his time at Bryant’s skills academy one of the best experiences of his life. Thompson said he was star-struck while sharing the floor with the late basketball legend.
#TBT One of the greatest experiences of my life was being able to participate in the goats 🐐 skills academy back in HS. I was so star struck the whole time and couldn’t believe I was on the same hardwood as Bean.
Former LSU star cornerback and 2020 NFL Draft prospect Kristian Fulton shares his favorite things, including the best place to get wings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his favorite NBA team (don’t call him a bandwagoner) and more.
Former LSU star cornerback and 2020 NFL Draft prospect Kristian Fulton shares his favorite things, including the best place to get wings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his favorite NBA team (don’t call him a bandwagoner) and more.
In his all-time NBA starting lineup, D’Angelo Russell included his former Golden State teammate.
At the start of the 2019-20 season, the Golden State Warriors consisted of a shiny new backcourt duo. However, injuries hampered the tandem of Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell before it could blossom.
Curry suffered a hand injury in the fourth game of the season, forcing Russell to take over the reins of the Golden State offense. In 33 games, the Ohio State product averaged 23.6 points on 43% shooting with 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 32.1 minutes per game.
Before Curry could return healthy, the Warriors moved Russell in a four-player deal to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the NBA trade deadline.
Although their time together sharing the backcourt was limited, Russell had high praise for his former teammate in a social media interview. The 24-year-old point guard was asked to name his all-time starting five hoops lineup.
Russell stuck with a relatively modern group for his all-time lineup, yet he couldn’t narrow down his squad to just five players. The 24-year-old point guard listed Curry alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O’Neal.
In Minnesota, the one-time All-Star is averaging 21.7 points on 41.2% shooting from the field in 12 games. Curry and Russell will have to wait until next season to lace up against each other for the first time since the blockbuster move.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Bob Myers will represent the Golden State Warriors at Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s memorial service.
The impact of Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing is still making waves through the NBA. Players from across the league have poured emotional tributes on the court and through social media in Bryant’s honor.
Members of the Golden State Warriors, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, have used social media to share their feelings on Bryant’s loss.
In their first home game since his passing, the Warriors paid respect to the fallen Lakers legend. During the game, Curry wore a Bryant jersey on the sideline.
The Staples Center will host a memorial service for Bryant and his daughter Gianna on Monday in Los Angeles.
After Golden State’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, Steve Kerr spoke to reporters about Bryant’s upcoming memorial.
Steph and Draymond will go down to LA for the service with Bob. And the rest of the staff and team will stay here and practice tomorrow. It’ll be a tough day for the NBA, and it’s been a tough few weeks for everybody, and it doesn’t seem real; it really doesn’t. It’s just a constant reminder when you hear his name, when you see him on TV — see images. It’s just a constant reminder of what happened and how tragic it was and how tragic it is for his family. We will all be thinking of Vanessa [Bryant] and the family, and the Lakers. And then the service tomorrow, like I said; Draymond, Steph and Bob will represent us there.
Along with Curry, Thompson and Bob Myers, Klay Thompson is expected to attend the service, according to Conor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Warriors’ last five-games were all played away from the Bay Area since his passing. Following the NBA trade deadline, Golden State returned to their home, the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The first game since their return, the Warriors hosted Bryant’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although time has passed, Golden State paid their respect to the late Lakers’ Most Valuable Player.
Starting with their outdoor arena video board, the Warriors displayed Bryant’s No. 8 and Gianna’s No. 2 basketball jersey as fans arrived at Chase Center.
Warriors pay tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant and seven other victims of fatal helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/Opt9bleoFN
The outdoor video board located in Golden State’s “Thrive City” in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood also displayed the names of all nine people involved in the tragic helicopter crash.
In the arena, the Warriors gave away black shirts with the Bryant’s jersey numbers of No. 8, No. 24 and No. 2 listed across the chest for those in attendance.
The Warriors shirt giveaway tonight paid tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant 💜💛
Before the game started, the Warriors played a video tribute to Bryant, featuring the moment he walked off the floor in Oracle Arena for the final time.
I remember the first game back at the forum in the preseason my rookie year like how amazing of a moment that was — you’re sitting there asking questions to yourself, ‘why does he mean so much?’ — he has a presence that I think we all just understood how much basketball meant to him, and he pushed the game to new heights, and we are all the better for it.
The Warriors will have the chance to honor Bryant on their home floor against his former team when they return to San Francisco to host the Los Angeles Lakers on February 8.
