Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Kobe Bryant has yet to hit the hardwood in the Kobe 9, but it looks like fans of The Black Mamba will be treated to another version of Kobe Bryant's latest sneaker.
First seen as a super-exclusive HTM release that only dropped at select stores in Italy, the low top Nike Kobe 9 Elites will be returning to retail with a more widespread release. A few design tweaks have been made for the new release, but their form remains pretty close to the HTM drop. Pictured here are the first two offerings that take their inspiration from two different musical icons.
Utilizing a hyper grape Flyknit base complemented by black and silver accents, the Kobe 9 Elite Low "Michael Jackson" pays tribute to the King of Pop. Finishing off the design is a translucent outsole featuring a graphic of the moon's surface so you can bust out a moonwalk wherever you go.
In contrast to the flashy upper of the "Michael Jackson" Elites, the "Beethoven" Kobe 9s feature a more subdued design composed primarily of black and white Flyknit. It's a fitting nod to the legendary composer and the timeless quality of his work.
The "Michael Jackson" Elites are slated to release on July 12th while the "Beethovens" will drop on August 16th at Nike.com and select Nike basketball retailers. No local release info has come down the pipeline as of yet, but given the popularity of the Kobe 9 in the country, it makes great business sense to drop these at local stores. And given how the EM lows are priced at P8495, and the Elite highs are P9995, the pricing should be a nice little middle point between the two other versions.
Check out more pictures of both shoes after the jump.