Published 11:45 IST, January 28th 2020
Kobe Bryant death: Nike pulls all 'Kobe' gear from online store in wake of tragic loss
LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's sudden death has skyrocketed the resale market involving his gear and sneakers. Nike has come forward to pull out 'Kobe' gear.
In the wake of LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's tragic death, Nike has taken steps to stop resellers from profiting from the sad news by pulling all Kobe-related products from its website. As of now, searches for 'Kobe' on Nike's websites shows a purple and yellow Nike gift card that bears the Lakers logo.
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Nike partnered with Kobe Bryant for the release of the 'Nike Kobe' series of basketball sneakers. The sneaker series has widely been considered as one of the best in the industry in both its design and innovation. The sneakers have already been worn by more than 100 NBA players this season and continue to be the No.1 choice for basketball professional around the globe.
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On Monday night, at the Nike World Headquarters in Oregon, the staff gathered throughout the day around a 35-foot poster of Bryant to pay homage to the departed basketball legend. Nike also released a public statement hailing Kobe Bryant as one of the greatest athletes of his generation and lauding him for his impact on the sports community.
Kobe Bryant death: Retailers trying to prevent resale profiting
According to ESPN, Nike had already planned to launch the latest edition of the sneaker series, the Kobe 5 Protro. It is slated for a February 7 release. The Kobe 5 Protro is said to honour his 5th and final NBA Championship in 2010. However, after Bryant's sudden demise, Nike is reportedly contemplating whether to go forward with the release as planned or postpone the launch for a later date. In addition to Nike, several resale stores are also reportedly taking steps to combat people profiting off of Kobe Bryant's death. Complex reports that popular footwear store Foot Locker has been asked to return Kobe product to Swoosh.
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Updated 11:45 IST, January 28th 2020