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Nike Is Releasing a New Kobe Bryant-Themed Air Force 1 Referencing a Classic Lakers Jersey

Early details on the 'Linen' colorway expected to arrive at retail this year.

By Riley Jones

Riley Jones

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HOLLYWOOD - JULY 10: NBA player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and his wife Vanessa pose backstage during the 10th Annual ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 10, 2002 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown)

LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 19: Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits with his daughter, Natalia, before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as he recovers from an ankle injury at Staples Center January 19, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Vanessa Bryant Vanessa Bryant, center, wife of Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, watches the Lakers' game against the Seattle SuperSonics with their two daughters Natalia, left, and Gianna Maria-Onore, Friday night, in Los AngelesSuperSonics Lakers Basketball, Los Angeles, USA

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant and daughter Natalia Diamante Bryant
'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' film world premiere at Disneyland, Los Angeles, America - 19 May 2007

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Nike’s 2024 Kobe Bryant sneaker releases included special versions of the classic Air Force 1 sneaker with details referencing the late Los Angeles Lakers legend. This year, the Beaverton-Ore.-based company’s sportswear division will keep the concept going with several new Air Force 1s tied to Bryant, some of which are already generating buzz online.

One of the more intriguing recently leaked pairs is a “Linen” Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low accented with University Blue. Although in-hand images have yet to arrive, outlet Sneaker Market RO reports that a “Linen/Linen/University Blue” colorway is set to arrive this year, and a speculative mock-up gives an early idea of what could be expected.

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A speculative mock-up of the upcoming Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Linen’ (pair).Sneaker Market RO

In addition to the “Linen” look featured here, several other Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Lows are reportedly on their way to retail this year. A two-sneaker “Minneapolis Pack” featuring both blue and yellow colorways is expected to launch this summer, while a new black and Persian Violet style is slated to arrive sometime in September.

Bryant’s latest Air Force 1 Low collaborations began releasing in ’24 with a white-based “Lakers Home” colorway and a monogrammed “Lakers Away” style in black, the latter of which was released in both individually numbered and unnumbered versions. Previous Kobe-themed Air Force 1 releases include a 2007 iteration adorned with an illustration of Bryant’s face, a 2011 pair featuring Nike’s thermo-molded Vac Tech method and a 2017 style covered in faux snakeskin.

As of publishing, the “Linen” Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low FCS is expected to be released in December. The shoe has a SKU of IH1018-200.