Facts
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Top
High-Top
Basketball sneakers that rise well above the ankle to keep sprints and jumps stable and well-supported. You sure can fly high when you have high-top basketball shoes to tie.
Mid-Top
Basketball sneakers that rise just up to where the ankles are. Providing support and flexibility so fine, mid-top basketball shoes surely hold the line.
Low-Top
Basketball shoes that leave the ankles exposed for a better range of motion. Be flexible with your blows, get basketball shoes that are low.
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Signature
Good to know
Some basketball shoes embody the athleticism and symbolize the life of certain on-court legends. Hooping will surely be fine when you get kicks from their signature lines.
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LockdownLace-Up
Strap
Hoop shoes that drop the traditional laces in favor of velcro straps for better efficiency. Secure strap basketball shoes, and have them in various hues.
Lace-Up
Basketball shoes that stick with the good old laces for that familiar security and lockdown. Get lace-up basketball shoes to tie because they never go out of style.
Slip-On
Basketball shoes with uppers that provide a glove-like fit without the help of any lockdown mechanism. Do nothing but go in with slip-on basketball shoes .
Good to know
Some basketball shoes combine the powers of more than one lockdown styles for an improved fit and a much more stable ride. Get more bases covered with these basketball shoes.
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Price$160
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Weight11.9oz
Good to know
Basketball shoes usually weigh between 300g and 400g for speed and agility. Write your on-court tale with basketball shoes that barely tip the scales.
Rankings
Expert Reviews
Experts are basketball players, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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90 / 100 based on 4 expert reviews
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I personally enjoyed the fit in this shoe a little more due to the material change as they feature very little Fuse and they were missing the really high collar but overall you get the same experience.
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I personally enjoyed the fit in this shoe a little more due to the material change as they feature very little Fuse and they were missing the really high collar but overall you get the same experience.
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I loved the way the Kobe IX felt on foot in terms of fit. It was a 1:1 type fit throughout the upper, nearly as good as the Kobe VI – one of the hallmarks in terms of fit and the best fitting low top I’ve ever owned.
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Overall, the Kobe 9 EM is the best Kobe shoe for me, beating the 10s, 8s, 7s, and 6s.
Profile of the Nike Kobe 9 Low
Nike released two versions of the Kobe 9 Low. The first is the Elite version with a Flyknit upper and a carbon fiber shank on the rear panel. The second is the engineered mesh (EM) version. This shoe model features a TPU shank on the lateral side for support and containment. The shoe was released in March 2014 with a price lower than its Elite version.
The Kobe 9 series is the first in the signature athlete’s line to have the symbol of the stitches he had from tearing his Achilles’ tendon. Bryant says it reminds him of where he is today and all his achievements after 18 years of being a professional basketball player.
Another low-top sneaker to celebrate is Kobe Bryant’s AD 2018 model from Nike. Instead of Lunarlon, these shoes comes with a Phylon midsole and a huge Zoom unit at the heel. The setup provides enough impact absorption and comfort.
Performance
Cushion. The midsole of the Kobe 9 Low is entirely made of Lunarlon. As per Nike’s website, it is a light, soft, and resilient foam that evenly distributes impact and weight and gives a responsive feel. The setup of the midsole also gives a nice court feel.
Traction. The outsole of the Nike Kobe 9 Low is usually made of icy, translucent, and flexible outsole. It has a pressure-mapped traction pattern that delivers a good court grip on any surface, making it so supportive of multidirectional footwork. However, this type of rubber is preferably for indoor use only.
Still, there are Kobe 9 Lows with XDR or Extra Durable Rubber outsoles. This version is the one that’s suitable for outdoor playing
Fit
Length and Width. The Nike Kobe 9 Low comes in the average length and width. Reviewers have different assessments of the fit. Some mention it is true to size. A few have reported that the shoe fits fairly tight at the midfoot. Still, for those with normal-sized feet, it is best to go true to size. For wearers with wider feet, it is best to fit the shoe first before buying or go for slightly bigger sizes.
Lockdown. The Kobe 9 Low has Flywire technology to keep the foot in place. The upper setup provides great foot containment, hence, foot slippage is avoided. Both sides of the shoe boast TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) shanks to give it a firmer structure. The shoe uses the standard lacing system with flat shoelaces.
Material
The upper of the Nike Kobe 9 Low is made of thick engineered mesh with fuse overlays on the forefoot. The fuse keeps the shoe durable even with toe drags and prolonged use. The engineered mesh keeps the foot comfortable and ventilated. The inside of the mesh upper is lined with nylon for reinforcement.
Style
The low-top construction of the Nike Kobe 9 Low comes in numerous colorways. Buyers will have an option to choose from the lightest to the darkest of hues, whichever colorway best fits their personality.
Both sides of the shoe have the Swoosh logo. Depending on the colorway, the Swoosh may have a chrome effect. The tongue, heel counter, and outsole have the famous logo of Kobe Bryant. Bryant’s signature is embossed on the lateral sides of the shoe. Like his previous signature shoes, the heel counter has the nine stitches he had after tearing his Achilles’ tendon.
Special Colorways of the Nike Kobe 9 Low
Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes are releases in plenty of ordinary and special colorways. The following are some of the basic ones:
- Purple/Black/White
- Red/Black/White
- White/Black/White
Nike Kobe 9 Premium “Barangay”
The Nike Kobe 9 Premium "Barangay" is a Philippine exclusive on its first release in May 2014. It is inspired by the love of the Filipinos for basketball. The inspiration of the design is from a public utility vehicle in the Philippines called Jeepney. It is designed by Eric Goto, who himself has Filipino blood.
The upper has an interesting mix of blue, red, and yellow that forms the pattern usually found on “banig,” which is a type of indigenous mat that Filipinos in the rural areas sleep on. Overlapped by the Swoosh logo, the number “24” is on the lateral side. The icy outsole has the “tsinelas” design with a crimson Kobe logo on the heel. “Tsinelas” is the Filipino term for flip flops, which some Filipinos use when playing basketball.