Who could ever have imagined when Kobe Bryant is inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this August, the Lakers legend will only be there in spirit. His sudden death three months ago at the tender age of 41 sent shockwaves throughout the world. Kobe’s game-used jerseys and sneakers, already sacred keepsakes while he was living, are now among the most sought-after artifacts for basketball collectors.
With a heavy heart, we present this historically significant pair of his 2011-12 game-worn Nike ‘Kobe VII’ signature model shoes. Longtime Los Angeles dealer D.C. Sports has provided a letter stating Kobe worn these in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Thunder and were “obtained by an impeccable source inside the NBA with access to players.” The only game in that series he sported this same style and colorway was Game 5 at OKC (5/21/12), which just so happened to be Kobe’s last ever playoff game. Mamba erupted for 42 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers were knocked out of the postseason.
Kobe also wore this same exact style in a Game 7 win over Denver (5/12/12) from the previous series as well as four games late in the regular season (3/21, 3/27, 4/4 and 4/20). While professional photo-matching results were deemed “inconclusive” to confirm a 100% match to either 5/12 or 5/21, neither playoff game has been officially ruled out. We did our own thorough in-house research and found very similar characteristics bordering on conclusive. The unique pattern of black splattering and yellow-gold threaded lines appear to match the 5/12 game to a tee (Getty 144263874). The photo-matcher we consulted did not examine the four regular season games in question.
These Nike Zoom Kobe VII “Poison Dart Frog” low-top sneakers have a flashy camouflage gold and black spotting design on the uppers [mimicking the poisonous frog’s skin] with purple midsole cushioning and gray Swoosh logos. They have a protective plastic heel section with a gray "Kobe" facsimile signature and a yellow depiction of the Poison Dart Frog stamped on the rear. The black tongues have Kobe's Sheath logo in gray. The shoes are properly tagged on the interior (manuf. dates “12/06/11” and “02/09/12”) and come in Kobe’s standard size 14 with their original black laces. The yellow insoles show heavy wear and sock sweating. Moderate creasing and light scuffing in the midsole region are consistent with ample game usage.
Kobe has added his autograph in 8-9/10 black pen to each shoe across the Swoosh (left, outer side; right inner side). A popular style among “Sneakerheads,” this very well could be the same pair of shoes worn by the late, great Kobe Bryant in his playoff finale. Includes LOA from D.C. Sports Collectibles. Full LOA from Beckett for autos.