Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the latest NBA star given his own signature shoe by Nike. Kobe Bryant has some things to say to the rising star.
In a report by Sole Collector, Nike featured a promo video of Kobe Bryant sharing his experience on being a Nike signature athlete. The video was made in preparation for an upcoming event by Nike on December 3 in New York City. Fans speculate that the new Kobe X will be featured at the event, dubbed the "next chapter". The first shoe in Irving's signature line, the Kyrie Irving 1, is also set to be introduced in the first week of December, based on a report by Kicks on Fire.
December 3 may be a commemorative passing of the torch activity, where superstar Bryant gives the spotlight to the young point guard.
A separate Kicks On Fire report said that in the Nike video, which lasts just under a minute, Bryant talked about how it feels to have his own signature shoe line. He said that the shoe cannot be separated from the player's personality. Kobe said, "The shoe must be an extension of you." He talked about how the signature sneakers represent him and his character. He is reminded that he is lacing up a piece of himself whenever he ties his shoelaces before a game.
Kobe also said in the video that as a signature player, it is essential that he provides all the necessary information to Nike designers for them to come up with an excellent product with the right features that will match his style of play and skill set. Finally, Kobe added that the most special part is when he sees an opponent wear his signature shoes simply because these are great for playing basketball.
All these statements can be deemed as sound advice from one NBA legend to a future great.
For the two NBA stars to meet for the big Nike announcement on December 3, the same KicksonFire.com report observed their respective schedules. Irving and the Cavs will be in Cleveland on December 2 to play against the Milwaukee Bucks. On December 4, they will be in New York to play against the Knicks. December 3 is no-game day so Irving will be available during Nike's "next chapter" event. As for Kobe and Lakers, they will be in Detroit on December 2 and then in Washington on December 3. Kobe's schedule will be quite tight if he plans to make it to the Nike event.