Throwback Thursday - Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
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Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals is only hours away. Once again a major sporting event has been an influencer on which shoe to pick for Throwback Thursday. For this week, let’s rewind a decade to 1998 which in the fall saw the release of the Adidas KB8 II, Kobe’s second signature shoe. Kobe wore the KB8 II in his third season in the NBA in the 1998-99 season that started late due to the NBA lockout. In the shoe Kobe displayed his growth as a player averaging 19.9 points, 5.3 boards, and 3.8 assists per game. Like the Adidas KB8, the shoe featured the Feet You Wear technology giving the wearer better stability, flexibility, and control on the court. Feet You Wear was the cushioning system of choice for Adidas Equipment shoes for the last half of the 1990’s, but unfortunately Adidas stopped producing shoes with the technology since shortly after the turn of the century. Inventor Frampton Ellis came up with the idea and earned his first patent for an athletic shoe designed to limit ankle injuries by mimicking the bare foot. He licensed the technology to Adidas in 1994 and only 2 years later it was on the feet of Steffi Graf when she won the 1996 US Open. In 2001, Frampton Ellis claimed that he was not being paid proper royalties and chose to sue Adidas. A settlement was reached between the two sides and unfortunately Feet You Wear is something of the past. Adidas has been bringing back many of the shoes Kobe wore while with Adidas slightly having to change the name from KB to “Crazy” and removing any images of him as well. So far we have seen the Crazy 8 (KB8), Crazy 1 (Kobe 1), and this summer Adidas is releasing many special colorways of the Top Ten 2000, the shoe Kobe wore in his rookie year. Check out a throwback photo of Kobe guarding Garnett while wearing these shoes as well as many more photos and throwback commercials after the jump. |
Kobe Bryant wearing Adidas KB8 II guarding Kevin Garnett (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
Adidas KB8 II Black/Imperial/Silver
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Love Kobe never liked his shoes maybe the his hyper’s coming out next will be my first Kobe shoe LAKERS in 5 or 6 baby…
Comment by abelino — June 5, 2008 @ 10:18 am
wow those puppies are hot dey remind me of da pennys…and is dat 3m on da side cuz if so den these are by far da toughest kobes ever
Comment by eldanny809 — June 5, 2008 @ 10:19 am
oh my god this brings back memories!
I would def grab these if they bring them back! I had the white and purples but never grabbed the black ones.
Comment by sneakFREAK — June 5, 2008 @ 10:39 am
Wow Kobe is da best his shoes go hard like his game. But i wish i was able to buy these shoes but ill just have to wait for the HYPERDUNKS!!!
Comment by Brendan — June 5, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
F*** them whats up with them nikes on KG Feet
Comment by Brave — June 5, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
These were amazing back in the day comfort wise
Comment by Flatsole — June 5, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
I slept on these in 98. I selpt on them when retailers had them on sale a couple of years after…
Comment by J.King — June 5, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
“These were amazing back in the day comfort wise” - Flatsole
AGREED!
My parents weren’t up on paying $65 for the KB8’s but I was able to get the white/purple ones for $50 at Just For Feet as a Confirmation Present.
Still to this day they are one of my favorite pairs of kicks of all time. I really regret parting ways with my pair
Comment by Nice Kicks — June 5, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
Nicekicks-New Balance “Worthy’s”…Best shoes ever worn by a Laker….any opinions?
Comment by soloflight22 — June 5, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
I agree with Brave. i want to see more of KG’s kicks
Comment by E-MAN — June 5, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
A bunch of dudes on my HS basketball team had these my senior year (I had J’s) but when you take a picture of these with a flash the shoe is just a white light. I got a bunch of pictures of my team ballin’ and there is a white flash. All of the “Feet You Wear” were nice and I wish adidas would bring them back. These are the best adidas basketball shoes in the last 15 years. This was their peak. Their stuff now is pretty lame.
Matt-What was the name of the shoes KG is wearing in that picture? I know it was one of his signature shoes around the time of the “Fun Police” commercials. I smell next week’s Throwback Thursday.
Comment by TASJ7045 — June 5, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
soloflight22,
I think that the NB Worthys or Magic’s weapons are the best Lakers kicks. Don’t forget about Kareems though. The Lakers def were stacked in the 80’s with awesome sneakers.
Comment by sneakFREAK — June 5, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
these are fresh to death. when all is said and done people will finally give kobe his respect. Jordan has 6 rings, how many you think kobe will have by the time he’s done? btw kobe is 29 years old.
Comment by ronnie — June 5, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
I think the Kobe 1’s where better. I still got the white/yellow/purple joints. They were wide for a basketball shoe but very comfy for casual wear. Kinda like wearing AUDI designed slippers…lol LET’S GO LAKERS !!
Comment by Jerronimo — June 5, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
memories…
Comment by flyasthesky — June 5, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
i would love to s these retroed
Comment by bkbigjay — June 5, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Matt!!!!
sum thursday down the line u gotta get tha joints on KG feet in that pic!!!
Comment by Maedae — June 5, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
The shoe that Garnett is wearing is the air Garnett’s. They came out in 1998. They also released a black/white/royal pair as well (They look way cleaner in black). The black pair were the ones that he wore on the road. Here s a flashback question for you all what were one of the pair of Nikes Garnett wore in his rookie season 1995-1996?
Comment by Troy — June 5, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
^ Air Jordan XI
Comment by Nice Kicks — June 5, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Yes, that is the Air Garnett in the photo and it would make a good Throwback.
This pair has alluded me forever so it’s going to take a miracle to get it here in time for next week, but I promise that I will get a shoe relevant to the people on the court for the Finals for next week.
Comment by Nice Kicks — June 5, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
I knew that you would know which shoe it was Matt. Good call. I remember he wore both the white and black 11’s and also the all white with the Carolina sole as well. Do you remember that he also wore a pair of the jumpmans as well (white and navy and black and blue)?
Comment by Troy — June 5, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
those air garnetts, did they come out again years ago? like 02 or so? i remember seeing people with them. kg had some classics with nike, the air bakin, the flightposites.
Comment by bkbigjay — June 5, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
oh forget it, the garnetts i was talking about apparently was the garnett 3’s, so the ones pictured must me the 1’s
Comment by bkbigjay — June 5, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
I copped the NB Worthy mid for 19.99 from Foot Locker in 05.
Matt, How about the D.Fish Uptempos for next week?
Comment by J.King — June 5, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
when will this shoe ever be available again?
i had these when i was on my 4th grade.
i love this shoe and i want to have it again!
Comment by shrewd03 — June 5, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
anyone of u guy selling this? im size 11.
let me kno.
Comment by shrewd03 — June 5, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
The ones photographed are a size 10. I have been looking for those, the white/purples, and the uber limited white/golds in size 11 for years.
Comment by Nice Kicks — June 5, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Aawww man!!! I LOVE THESE t-shoe’s? I still have the White/Purple and the All Purple/White and they STILL LOOK NEW!!! but what a shame, that they could not expand on that technology? These are 1 of my FAVORITE T-Shoe’s of ALL TIME, next to my J-Kidd’s 95′ Flights by Nike? I REALLY WISH that they would some how come out with these again???
Comment by kb.aka.The 1 — June 5, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Kobe must have some messed up feet cause all his shoes be the most funky shapes. Nike to Addidas
Comment by fly greg — June 5, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
If Jordan Farmar continues to develop, he could have something of his own from Adidas in a signature.
Comment by J.King — June 5, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
“Kobe must have some messed up feet cause all his shoes be the most funky shapes.” - fly greg
The Top Ten 2000’s and the KB8 line has funky, non-traditional shapes because the sole is shaped like a human foot. The shoes have alot of curves and contours on the sole because that is how human feet flex when in motion.
Comment by Nice Kicks — June 5, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
is it me, or does it look like they took a lot of cues on this shoe’s design from the jason kidd zoom flight five. just thought about that lookin at it
Comment by lilrip133 — June 5, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
tha nike garnetts would be a nice choice for T.T.,or even G.P.’s son of glove kicks?
Comment by kutnup — June 6, 2008 @ 2:23 am
Damn man, I still have a pair of these exact color way but in size 9 and they’re brand new! I never wore them cuz they were to narrow and they hurt my feet.
Comment by ummmyeaaa — June 6, 2008 @ 4:22 am
PLEASE PLEASE ADIDAS, BRING THESE BACK? IN ALL 3 COLORWAYS!!! THANKS kb.lakerfanforlifeuntilthewheelsfalloff!!!
Comment by kb.aka.The 1 — June 6, 2008 @ 10:28 am
^ damn kid did your space bar stop workin or something?!
These are one of the best Throwbacks picked so far. This is a shoe that is overlooked by so many because it doesn’t have a swoosh on it. I really hope Adidas brings these kicks back - especially with all the Kobe hype once they take the championship!!!
(Game 1 was a bad day for Kob’s)
Comment by Souf_Beach_23 — June 6, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Lakers not winning the championship no way but the kicks is hot i probably wont be coppin them though
Comment by Haha — June 6, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I honestly didnt like the look of these when they came out. Quite frankly it wasn’t until the Hurache 2k4 that Kobe has a good looking shoe! Yes, i’m an Adidas dude & yes, the retro Crazy 8’s are cool but the Hyperdunk will be the Kobe’s of Kobe’s!
Big Dix
Comment by Dixon Syder — June 6, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
not a Lakers or Kobe fan n even if they werent Kobe’s i still wouldnt like em. U G L Y!
Comment by JC — June 6, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
^
forgot 2 mention: CELTICS ALL DA WAY!
Comment by JC — June 6, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
SHREWD03, NICEKICKS,
I have a pair of size 11, same colorway as shown above for sale. Get at me for pics. Pretty good condition. Let me know
slai_21@yahoo.com
Comment by SL — June 6, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
these look hot
Comment by greenmaker24 — June 6, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
my how times change..its now kobe rocking the swoosh and garnett wearing 3 stripes
Comment by Devilb0y — June 7, 2008 @ 6:22 am
i got these in all purple. deadstock.
Comment by sj — June 8, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
these are fresh but can’t cop look to heavy on feet but are fresh.
Comment by Beef11 — June 10, 2008 @ 12:04 am
Man F Kobe I respect his game, but on another note them sneaker are pretty Ima copp em if I find them.O yea Boston baby allday.
Comment by kg21 for life — June 11, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Some one is selling it on Ebay now.
Comment by kb24 — June 17, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Hey Everyone, These shoes were da bomb back in the day. They had the excellent Feet You Wear technology and the greatankle support (I also like the Air Pippen 2, with the inner bootie). I like that when you took out the sole it was like an Inch thick which made them comfortable to wear. the major con of it was the outer sole. The bottom rubber were grooved and was thin and the cardboard was so thin that after a couple of months you would be wearing these shoes but you would see that cardboard, man!
Listen Adidas!!, I Would Pay for These shoes again, just make these two things thicker by, reducing the thick insole or something. I realize that all consumer goods are disposable, but make these shoes have a longer life by improving the design.
I got the adidas Men’s Crazy Quicks and they are good, but what retro style are these. Little help.
Comment by ptwist61 — July 9, 2008 @ 3:16 am
Crazy Quicks are tweaked KB8 EQT III’s.
Comment by Nene33 — August 28, 2008 @ 5:07 am
these were second best bball shoes made by 3 stripes, plus the sole design was mad freaky, and sexy. i’d buy these and the predecessor if you could find them in a 15. my word.
Comment by supremefury — September 30, 2008 @ 6:44 am