In 1996, Kobe Bryant became the first guard in NBA history drafted out of high school, ushering in a new era of “Showtime” basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers. After twenty seasons in purple and gold, his 60-point “Mamba Out” performance in his final career game in 2016 cemented Kobe’s legacy as one of the all-time greats on the Mr. Rushmore of basketball.

Offered here is a pair of Kobe Bryant game-worn and dual-signed Adidas sneakers from his third year in the Association. The NBA lockout shortened the 1998-99 season to just 50 games. The 20-year-old shooting guard played in every one of them, raising his scoring average to a twenty per night while also raising eyebrows around the league. He took his game to another level, improving in every offensive category except 3-point %. If not for the All-Star Game getting canceled because of the strike, Bryant would have surely made his second Western Conference squad.

Progressing from the original Crazy Eights, Kobe rocked these Adidas’ second edition ‘Crazy 8 II’ shoes during the entire regular season, which lasted from early February to early May of 1999. Made of nylon and patent leather, the white colorways with Lakers purple Adidas stripes and black trim around the upper ankles, these kicks were certainly a step up from the rather nondescript first edition Crazy 8’s Kobe sported the season prior for his exclusive shoe brand. The Adidas logo adorns the outer ankles (as well as the tongues in purple), while a catchy “K8B” is embroidered on the opposite side of each upper ankle. That same K8B logo also appears on the outer toes. Another unique feature is Kobe’s iconic No. “8” in purple at the mid-section within the laces. Each design element – silver lace tips, glittery silver tongues, extra padding within the inner heel – make this Kobe Adidas signature model on par with Nike player exclusive sneakers at that time.

These Kobe gamers come in his size 14 – he moved up from size 13.5 as an NBA sophomore – with proper player sample tagging that indicates a “08/98” manufacturing date. The original laces and insoles are present. The pair shows obvious use with sock sweating on the interior and plenty of scuffing and on the exterior. Kobe has autographed both shoes – the left on the outer ankle and the right on the inner ankle – in black marker with his number "8" inscribed. They remain in terrific condition for ideal display – a highly coveted early-career pair from Mamba. Includes full LOAs from PSA/DNA and Beckett for each signed shoe.