To celebrate Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s 17th birthday, Nike and the Bryant estate have released new iterations of the basketball shoes and jerseys that honor the late daughter of former Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant.
Nike posted the items for sale on its SNKRS site and app and all of them were listed as sold out before noon ET.
“It was important for all of us to celebrate Gigi’s legacy within these Kobe designs,” Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe and mother to Gianna, said in a video Nike published Monday. “When you lace these on, the gold ‘Mambacita’ heart on the sock liner is a beautiful reminder to play the game with fierceness, curiosity and competitiveness, just like Gigi.”
This comes one year after Nike released a 60-second ad dedicated to Gianna Bryant and a previous reissue of Kobe Bryant’s popular shoe: the “Mambacita Sweet 16.”
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Gianna Bryant, her father and seven others were killed in a helicopter accident in California on Jan. 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant had said prior to their passing that Gianna wanted to play college basketball at Connecticut and had dreams of starring in the WNBA.
What is new about the Kobe 4 Protro ‘Mambacita’ shoes Nike dropped Monday?
The shoes, the Kobe 4 Protro “Mambacita,” are a reissue of the popular low-cut version that Kobe Bryant made popular during his playing days. The reissue has several design features that pay homage to Gianna Bryant. The black and white colorway is a nod to the uniform colors that her youth team wore on the court. The gingham around the heel and on the insole is inspired by the flannel shirts Gianna Bryant would often tie around her waist.
The Nike swoosh on the sole is red, which symbolizes the red ribbon Gianna Bryant would wear during school pictures. Gianna’s name is also located on the heel and lace tips. The jerseys are available in black and white and feature Gianna Bryant’s No. 2 and her nickname on the nameplate under the neckline.
What other tributes did Nike and Vanessa Bryant make in honor of Gianna Bryant?
Vanessa Bryant posted a series of Instagram tributes to Gianna Bryant, to honor her on what would’ve been her 17th birthday. “Happy 17th birthday, baby girl,” Bryant wrote in one of the messages. “I love you and miss you so much, sweet Angel. #GigiBryant #Mambacita #Wings ❤️ #2“
Nike also published a social media tribute video in which it pushed the hashtag #PlayGigisWay, with appearances by WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, Bryant’s former teammate Aubrey Callaghan, former NBA forward Pau Gasol, current Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and her former coach and teacher Jon Grogan.
Contributing: Chris Bumbaca
