The Conductor: Kobe's Final Performance

20-year pro basketball career of Kobe Bryant was concluded last night in Los Angeles, Bryant playfully orchestrates a symphony of cheers and jeers in Nike’s new film, “The Conductor,” which illustrates the athlete’s polarizing effect among players, coaches and fans, whom many have loved and others have loved to hate.
Cameos in the new film, directed by Mark Romanek and developed in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy Portland, include Hall-of-Fame coach Phil Jackson, 10-time All-Star and Los Angeles native Paul Pierce, former world champion Rasheed Wallace, a flustered Benny the Bull and passionate fans representing nine basketball teams.
“The Conductor” continues the love-hate theme surrounding Bryant,established by Nike Basketball last Thursday and leading into Mamba Day today. This tribute illustrates how hate has manifested into respect and admiration for Bryant. It began with Nike athletes across multiple sports wearing black and gold shoes as a symbolic tribute to Bryant’s golden career fading to black.

The Conductor completes his final symphony.
Available for a limited time beginning at tipoff of the Black Mamba’s final game tonight, the KOBE 11 Mamba Day iD celebrates Bryant’s career by the numbers. Fans can also give their final word to Bryant through the Mamba Day Generator, which overlays the user’s selected farewell phrase on a photo that can then be shared on social media.

Lastly, the full KOBE 11 Black Mamba Pack is available on eBay, with each of the 13 shoes autographed by Bryant. Auction proceeds benefit The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.

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Love or Hate, Tell Kobe How You Feel

Throughout his career, Kobe Bryant has amassed top accolades and extraordinary stats. He has also attracted countless fans — and critics. As the years mounted, so did the messages of love and hate from opponents, teammates, cross-sport athletes, fans, coaches and more.

Now, as we approach Bryant’s final game, fellow Nike athletes pay tribute to the Black Mamba in a final video fueled by these conflicting passions.

Bryant calls on everyone to give their final word through the Mamba Day Generator, which overlays the user’s selected farewell word on a photo that can then be shared on social media.

Available for a limited time beginning at tipoff of his final game on April 13, the KOBE 11 Mamba Day iD celebrates Bryant’s career by the numbers. It's also open for personal interpretation, allowing athletes and fans to stamp their departing word for Bryant on the inner tongue.

The final NIKEiD shoe of Bryant’s professional career will feature a graphic highlighting eight notable stats that have fueled the love and hate, including: the dates of his first and last games (11.01.96 and 4.13.16), five World Championships, four All-Star MVP awards, 18 All-Star appearances, 81 points scored in a game, 20 years played in the league and 24 for his jersey number.

 

The black and gold Nike product seen on athletes worldwide leads into the Mamba Day celebration on April 13, when Los Angeles hosts Utah in Bryant’s final professional game.  

The 34 Nike athletes featured in the video include: Kyrie Irving, Russell Wilson, Allyson Felix, Elena Delle Donne, Odell Beckham Jr., Paul George, Rafael Nadal, Paul Rodriguez, Natalie Achonwa, Kirani James, Michelle Wie, Richard Sherman, LeBron James, Neymar Jr., Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Phil Jackson, Sanya Richards-Ross, Tiger Woods, Clay Matthews, NaVorro Bowman, Brooks Koepka, Kevin Durant, Rob Gronkowski, Ali Krieger, Rory McIlroy, Gerard Pique, Eric Koston, Shao Ting, Mascherano, Yi Jianlian, Andres Iniesta, Marcus Mariota and Mo Farah.

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Kobe Countdown Fuels Love and Hate

Love him or hate him, the Black Mamba’s prolific and successful career has fueled both joy and anger. In a nod to this duality, as the clock winds down on Kobe Bryant’s career, NIKE, Inc. is celebrating one of its most accomplished athletes with a befitting global tribute. Beginning today, Nike-sponsored athletes worldwide will celebrate the player many love to hate by wearing black and gold shoes, a metaphoric nod to Bryant’s golden career fading to black on April 13.

From the golf course in Augusta to football pitches in Europe and numerous fields of play in between, accomplished athletes including Rory McIlroy, Mike Trout and Carli Lloyd will honor one of the world’s most polarizing champions. Bryant is a hero to fans and a villain to others, but nobody can question his fierce competitiveness, which has led to five world championships, 18 All-Star appearances and two gold medals.

The black and gold Nike product seen worldwide over the next week appropriately leads into the Mamba Day celebration on April 13, when Los Angeles hosts Utah in Bryant’s final professional game.

Athletes featured in the video include: Sanya Richards-Ross, Russell Wilson, Kyrie Irving, Natalie Achonwa, Odell Beckham Jr., Paul George, Eric Koston and Kevin Durant.

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Basketball Uniforms Beyond a Jersey and Short

Kevin Durant wearing Nike Vapor basketball uniform with AeroSwift technology

Pioneering Nike Vapor basketball uniforms impose a new order on the court by pairing progressive knit jerseys and shorts featuring Nike AeroSwift technology with innovative base layers to minimize game-time distractions and maximize performance.

The system is anchored by basketball-specific base layer options, including arm sleeves, padded compression gear and knee sleeves, which together wick sweat from the skin, providing a feeling of protection and compression, and keeping the players’ arms and legs warm off-court.

Designed to interact with the base layer but not cling, the lightweight, tailored jersey features stretch knit with engineered mesh as determined by extensive sweat-mapping studies.

The short also introduces a FlyVent waistband that addresses the discomfort of traditional basketball waistbands via a new manufacturing process that combines two types of knit mesh into one highly secure, breathable band. This is matched to a hybrid of engineered knit mesh in the back and a hydrophobic four-way stretch woven fabric in the front. Additionally, the front of the shorts features a mobility vent. Placed specifically where basketball players need it most, based on their five key movements, it reveals a flash of tights as athletes move. The result is a 35% more breathable kit than that worn in 2012.

Moving down the body, designers further reduced distraction with the Nike Elite Versatility basketball sock. A 360-degree ankle-support system, dynamic arch compression, anatomical design and footpad cushioning add to the comfort and locked-in feel of the sock, while Dri-FIT fabric wicks away moisture and increases breathability.

Sustainable Innovation

Nike Vapor uniforms with AeroSwift technology have been partially constructed from recycled polyester, which is rendered from plastic bottles to produce fine yarn. Since 2010, more than three billion plastic bottles have been diverted from landfills and converted into recycled polyester for Nike performance products.


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Nike and Jordan Brand Present the Ultimate All-Star Experiences

As basketball fans from around the world descend on Toronto this week, Nike and Jordan Brand will celebrate the global game by providing Nike+ members with the ultimate Nike INC. All-Star experience.

 

 

SNKRS XPRESS

SNKRS XPRESS invites Nike+ members to experience the holistic power of Nike and Jordan by offering a curated selection of footwear including the Nike Air Force 1 Flyknit, Air Jordan XXX, Jordan Cement IV, Kobe 11 Royalty and several surprise drops. To secure a seat on the SNKRS XPRESS, members can register at nike.com/snkrsxpress. 

The Toronto SNRKS XPRESS Station will be located at 277 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto and open to the public (via membership) 10am to 8pm from Thursday, February 11, to Sunday, February 14. 

In addition to Toronto, SNKRS XPRESS Stations will also pop-up in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Appointments and sign-up are available through Nike.com/snkrsxpress.

Chicago (11AM - 8PM)
669 North Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Los Angeles (10AM - 7PM)
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401

New York City (11AM - 7PM)
120 Wooster St.
Unit C
New York, NY 10012

Nike and Jordan Retail Locations
Canada’s first Jordan-only retail location, 306 Yonge (at 306 Yonge St.) provides the ultimate Jordan Brand experience in Toronto. The store will feature a premium assortment of Jordan footwear and apparel, including a rotation of product influenced by Toronto and the culture of basketball.

306 Yonge, Jordan only-retail store.

Jordan's "Best Of" Wall at 306 Yonge.

The store will also feature the Jordan Standard, an immersive experience available exclusively to Jordan members, in which participants use body tracking and ball control technology to test speed, control, agility, endurance and focus.

Located below 306 Yonge, 306 Underground serves up the ultimate VIP Jordan service experience. The lounge will offer customization, early product reservation, barber services and personal shopping. Nike+ members can sign up at Nike.com/snkrsxpress to reserve their spot.

Both spaces will officially open on Friday, February 12 at 6:23am EST and close on Monday, February 15 at 6:23pm.

NIKEiD Loft

Write a custom court story with NIKEiD, which invites you to personalize Nike's best signature hoops shoes with iconic graphics, All-Star color schemes, color-shift material options and more, at 548 Richmond Street West: Tuesday, February 9, 12pm-9pm; Wednesday, February 10, 12pm-5pm; Thursday, February 11, 12pm-6pm; Friday, February 12, 2pm -6pm; Saturday, February 13, 12pm-6pm; and Sunday, February 14, 11am-6pm.

On The Court

Throughout the weekend, Mattamy Centre, located at 50 Carlton St., will be the premiere Jordan performance location, featuring the Air Jordan XXX. Elite basketball athletes and Jordan members will have the opportunity to participate in Jordan Training sessions and learn from Jordan Brand athletes at exclusive player appearances.

On Thursday, Jordan Brand will look to bring elite talent from the United States up north to compete in the inaugural Jordan Brand Invitational, hosted at Mattamy Centre. Canada’s own Father Henry Carr and Orangeville Prep will face off against U.S. powerhouses Redondo Union and Oak Hill Prep beginning at 6pm. Admission is free for Jordan members. Visit Jordan.com/JBI to become a member and secure your spot at the game.

Tune into Nike.com/snkrsxpress throughout the week and follow @nikebasketball, @Jumpman23 and @NikeSportswear on Twitter for more information.

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Inner Strength: Kyrie Irving Trains His Way Back to the Game

Kyrie Irving is an inch taller and 20 pounds stronger than when he burst into basketball’s collective consciousness at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit.
Still, Irving hasn’t lost a step since his prep years in New Jersey. Through college and his early pro seasons, he has remained unrivaled in quickness on and off the ball. Irving attributes this advantage to a rigorous training regime.

He tapped into this dedication to fast-track his recovery after fracturing his left kneecap during Game 1 of the NBA championship series in June 2015. Instead of cutting back on training, he added a new series of isolated, weight-bearing dynamic exercises in the gym to complement his on-court workouts, which have been progressively approaching game speed. This recovery includes sweating every single day with his trainers, starting at 6:30 a.m., for two and a half hours prior to team practice at 10:00 a.m.

“It sucks being hurt,” Irving affirms. “But when you have guys in your corner — you have teammates and you have coaches who are continuously supporting you and helping you get to your goal, it makes life a lot easier.”
Iriving will make his season debut on Sunday against Philadelphia.