After almost 30 years on ice, Kobe Bryant's Adidas Crazy 8 is here

The late and great Kobe Bryant will always be known as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. But he'll also be remembered for his work in philanthropy – the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation – and his genre-redefining sneakers, like the Adidas Crazy 8. First released all the way back in 1997, this was his first shoe ever with the German sportswear company. And after almost three decades, it's coming back.  

Image courtesy of Adidas 

The Crazy 8 has always been a firm favourite among Bryant's fans. One of the only trainers to drop as part of Adidas' EQT and FYW lines (which stands for Feet You Wear), it's returning in its original ‘Core Black’ colour palette. Outfitted in a tumbled leather and suede construction, ‘Cloud White’ accents make their way throughout for a pop of contrast, extending all the way towards the beefy foam midsole underfoot. 

Era-accurate logos are embroidered across the tongue and heel, while thick rope laces tie everything together. All of this comes packed in a special edition shoebox, which is especially useful for the sort of sneakerheads that treat their grails like Jules Rimet. 

Image courtesy of Adidas  

Three years after the Crazy 8 debuted, the LA Lakers legend worked on the Crazy 1, which went on to inspire the Crazy IIInfinity that dropped at the end of last month. While his relationship with Adidas eventually soured down the line due to creative differences, it's still a landmark basketball shoe in the sneaker canon. 

While we're waiting on a release date, Kobe Bryant x Adidas Crazy 8 ‘Core Black’ is expected to return within the next couple of months. Will you be copping these once released?