Chapter 3, the Nike Kobe 11 ‘Parker Muse’. Since his departure from the sport of Basketball at the end of this season the folks at Nike have made it their duty to keep the Nike Kobe legacy alive. To speak on the story line that is Kobe’s career and stint with Nike, we have seen colorways release post retirement that made it clear in what direction Nike would be going. To kick things off with the ‘Muse Pack’ we saw the ‘Avar Muse’ and ‘Tinker Muse‘, each designed by Eric Avar and Tinker Hatfield who have played significant roles in molding Bryant’s signature shoe line. Closing the Muse Pack off is the Nike Kobe 11 ‘Parker Muse’ designed by Mark Parker and as you will learn in the official unveiling below, pays tribute to ‘The Black Mamba’.
A limited release of this new colorway will take place on May 26th via SNKRS followed by a retail release.
The voice of the athlete is paramount to Nike’s vision to deliver the unimaginable to athletes worldwide. From his early years as a footwear designer, NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker championed this mantra and credits Kobe Bryant as one of the top collaborators who has made the goal a reality. Bryant similarly values his long-term relationship with the visionary leader, stating, “Even though he has a large business to run, Mark still takes time to mentor me.”
This reciprocal relationship dates back to the Nike Huarache 2K4, the first shoe Bryant wore after signing with Nike in 2003. Parker played a key role in the shoe’s development, along with Eric Avar and Tinker Hatfield. The shoe immediately legitimized the innovative nature of Bryant’s signature line — a distinction that remains even after the conclusion of Bryant’s basketball career, as the Kobe signature line continues to grow and evolve.
Taking inspiration from this rich designer-athlete rapport and Bryant’s moniker “The Black Mamba,” the third shoe in the Kobe 11 Muse Pack features subtle details reflecting the black mamba snake. From the re-engineered Flyknit pattern and laces to the tongue and shoe underbelly, reptilian details designed by Parker subtly come to life on this new shoe.
The KOBE 11 Parker Muse is available in limited quantities beginning May 26 at SNKRS, followed by Nike.com and select global retail locations.