Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant made an impact on future stars like DeMar DeRozan not just with the countless unforgettable moments he had on the court, but the iconic shoes he created off of it as well.
But several of those shoes came out before many fans of the game today were old enough to appreciate them. Which is why Nike is released the Zoom Kobe 1 as the Kobe Protro, remaking the classic sneaker with modern performance technology used today.
That unfamiliarity today with some of Bryant’s coolest shoes is also why DeRozan, who grew up in Southern California idolizing the Lakers All-Star, was thrilled for the chance to take the lead in wearing the shoes on the court to model the rerelease, via Nick DePaula of ESPN:
“I thought it was about time,” DeRozan said.