Twenty years after Kobe Bryant’s NBA career began, The Black Mamba walked off the court of the Staples Center for the final time as a player on April 13, 2016 in the most Kobe-like way possible.
- 50 shots attempted – A new NBA record
- 42 minutes played – His average for the 2015-16 season was just over 28 minutes
- 60 Points – The most ever scored in a player’s final NBA game
- 11 – The signature sneaker model from Nike on his feet
The performance was what we’ve come to expect from Kobe. When “all of the lights” shine on Bryant, he rises to the occasion like no other athlete, in any sport.
What was different about Kobe’s last performance is the amount of interest that it created around his sneakers. Through five signature models from adidas, (six if you count the unreleased Kobe 3) and 11 signature models from Nike, Kobe’s last game created more buzz around his sneakers than ever before. Don’t get me wrong, Kobe’s sneakers are popular and Laker fans would argue because that’s what they do best. And yes, there have been moments when his shoes created an unusually large amount of buzz– the Grinch 6 and Prelude Pack immediately come to mind– but his last game was different.
The perfect storm of creative marketing from Nike’s #MambaDay and “The Conductor” commercial, NBA 2K’s announcement of Kobe’s 2K17 cover and countless other published stories and commemorative tribute videos kept #MambaDay trending all day and night on April 13th. With the timing of the Warriors record-breaking 73rd win taking place at the exact same time, which set Twitter ablaze with arguments of which historical moment was more important, Kobe was able to turn even his final game, an otherwise meaningless matchup against the Utah Jazz, into one of the most competitive moments of the season.
According to SI, Kobe’s final game was the most watched game on ESPN2 ever. It was also the most watched regular season game on ESPN’s Spanish-language channel, ESPN Deportes. Although, Stephen Curry and the Warriors garnered slightly more viewers, when it comes to the sneaker game Kobe and Nike were the clear winners. According to Sneaker News, the Mamba Day release of the NIKEiD Kobe 11 was the most successful sneaker launch in NIKEiD’s history.
The average resell price for the Kobe 11 Fade To Black edition reflects the excitement and attention that surrounded The Black Mamba’s final game as a Los Angeles Laker. While most of the Fade To Black Collection is being resold between 1.9 and 2.7 times their original prices, the Kobe 11 Fade To Black is currently going for almost 6X retail since it dropped, with an average deadstock price of $1,109. And, as of publishing, the majority of the Asks for the KB11 FTB, on StockX are going for more.
Although Kobe closed out his career in a short speech after the game with one final “Mamba Out” and a tweet the next day to further drive home the poignancy of the “final chapter” of his incredible story, for sneakerheads, the Kobe legacy will carry on. Hopefully, in the form of Kobe retros and the next shoe in the great line of his signature sneakers. After all, 6 games with 60+ points, 3rd on the all time scoring list with 33,642 points, 5 NBA championships, 18 All Star game appearance and countless other Mamba moments would make for some great storytelling opportunities for Nike to capitalize on.
