After Acrimonious Split With $20 Billion Brand, Spiteful Kobe Bryant Refused an Interview Due to ‘Petty’ Reason

Published 11/27/2022, 7:10 AM EST

The work ethic of Kobe Bryant compelled the legend to never live in the greys. It was either all in or nothing. Kobe only functioned on the opposite ends of a spectrum. He internalized his own philosophy so much, it started cropping up in other areas of his life. An interviewer was witness to this. ESPN’s Marc J. Spears once shared an interesting anecdote about the late superstar.

Kobe Bryant refused an interview because Spears wore Adidas attire. He emphasized his bitterness towards the brand when he put down a condition. Should Spears interview him, the reporter had to publish a video where he was throwing away his Adidas in his trash.

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“I wanna see it in the trash, that sweatsuit, in the trash and I need proof that you threw it away,” demanded Kobe. Some considered this gesture to be “petty.”

Why did Kobe Bryant sever ties with Adidas?

The history behind Adidas and Kobe Bryant is a sour equation. The superstar signed with the brand in 1996. In 2002, he cut ties with the brand and the five-time NBA champion refused to be in the vicinity of Adidas. It was reported that the Black Mamba was unsatisfied with Adidas’ decision to drop the second signature shoe. He allegedly paid a whopping $8 million from his own pocket to terminate his contract with Adidas. He was through.

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Many deduced what the future could have been if he chose to stay with Adidas. He could have been the face of the brand. In the book, ‘Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant,’ author Roland Lazenby wrote about how unimpressed Kobe was with Adidas’ vision. He had to pull out. He waited a full year before he could sign a new contract.

The 2002-03 season saw the Los Angeles Lakers legend wear different shoes to help him calculate his next move.

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Kobe Bryant went on to sign with Adidas’ competitor, Nike and has remained a brand ambassador till his death. Even after his sudden demise, his wife, Vanessa Bryant confirmed that the partnership will continue. She was thankful that both the brand and fans supported Kobe and Gigi’s legacy.

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Written by:

Rekha Joly is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She earned a triple major in English, Journalism, and Psychology from St. Joseph's College, Bangalore.

Edited by:

Bagavathi Eswaran

After Acrimonious Split With $20 Billion Brand, Spiteful Kobe Bryant Refused an Interview Due to ‘Petty’ Reason

Why did Kobe Bryant sever ties with Adidas?

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