Nike has launched a brand new basketball shoe incorporating its Flyknit seamless uppers which are knitted in one single piece using advanced flat knitting technology.

The world’s leading basketball brand, unveiled the much-anticipated KOBE 9 Elite shoe with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant at an event held at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles yesterday. The KOBE 9 Elite aims to redefine the aesthetics and performance of a basketball shoe and was designed using Nike Flyknit according to Nike’s “Nature Amplified” design ethos, an approach focused on designing for the body in motion and fuelled by scientific data and athlete insights.

“We are just scratching the surface of the potential of Nike Flyknit to transform the way we design shoes to meet athletes’ needs," said Mark Parker, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc. "The Kobe 9 redefines the basketball shoe by combining power, strength, and flexibility with lightweight materials and a whole new method of manufacturing.”

The masterpiece

Designed with Kobe’s tech insights and design inspirations, the KOBE 9 Elite features three key technologies: Nike Flyknit, Flywire and Lunarlon, aimed at giving the shoe superior lightweight performance. The innovative design is said to enhance the foot’s natural movements while providing Kobe with strength, durability and speed, plus all the benefits of natural motion where he needs it most.

"I draw inspiration from where I am as a player, as a person, and where my career is at this moment.  I'm trying to do something that the majority of people think is impossible to do," Kobe Bryant reflected when asked about the inspiration for his latest shoes and about getting back into the game. "I let my emotions out when I step on the basketball floor, it’s always been my escape, and these shoes will touch a nerve on the court in the same way I do."

Nike Flyknit, which was first used in Nike Running shoes in 2012, defies conventional shoe manufacturing processes by creating a one-piece engineered upper made from single strands of yarns on state of the art flat knitting machines. Lightweight and strong it is redefining sports shoe technology and comes to basketball for the first time in the KOBE 9 Elite.

“Nike Flyknit acts as a second skin for Kobe, giving him engineered strength similar to the design of a spider web – tension and strength just where it’s needed,” said Eric Avar, Nike Creative Director and VP of Innovation, who has worked closely with Kobe on his shoe designs for a decade."

Reverting back to a higher cut for the first time since his third signature shoe in 2007, Kobe’s ninth signature shoe features a knit collar for the proprioceptive feel of a low-top with the support of a mid-top.

According to Nike, with the lead colourway dubbed ‘Masterpiece,’ the KOBE 9 Elite uses the intriguing visual patterns allowed by Nike Flyknit to create a piece of art on the upper, nine red embroidered details on the heel give a nod to Kobe’s Achilles sutures. The design on the outsole is based on the pressure mapping of Kobe’s own foot, creating a ‘beautiful pattern while providing traction on court’.

Dynamic fit

Nike says it’s Nike Flyknit and Flywire technologies are a one-two punch, leading to a dynamic fit for Kobe’s intricate footwork. The single layer Nike Flyknit creates a seamless engineered upper that is, the company says, the ultimate in superior lightweight performance integrating areas of high breathability, stretch and support where it’s needed most.

Nike Flywire technology is strong yet dynamic for lockdown through the midfoot; its cables loosen and tighten with the natural motion of the foot, Nike adds. The carbon fiber heel counter provides strong and lightweight lateral stability when moving from side to side, while the heel remains stable.

Responsive ride

Eliminating bulk and distraction was a focus for Avar. The idea of ‘simplifying without compromise’ helped shape the design of the KOBE 9 Elite. Nike Lunarlon cushioning insert provides responsive cushioning that keeps the foot connected to the court. The pressure mapping designed, minimal rubber outsole delivers durable traction and is said to mimic the natural contours of the foot.

The KOBE 9 Elite upper is said to reduce waste by nearly 50% compared to traditional high-top basketball shoes that use multiple segments and cuts of material in the construction process. The KOBE 9 Elite releases globally on 8 February 2014, at Nike.com and select global retail locations.

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