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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 09: Los Angeles Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa Bryant pose for a photo during a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Washington Capitals at STAPLES Center on March 09, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 09: Los Angeles Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa Bryant pose for a photo during a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Washington Capitals at STAPLES Center on March 09, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images)
The basketball world lost an icon and legend in Kobe Bryant in January 2020. Since then, there have been many tributes to both him and his daughter Gigi, who also passed away in the accident.
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Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant was planning a tribute for her husband and daughter through footwear. She was working on a Kobe colorway edition, which would be called Mambacita in honor of Gigi. Vanessa helped Nike in designing the shoe, but ultimately never gave approval for the sale since the Bryant family ended their ties with Nike recently.
However, despite the absence of an approval from Vanessa, some people have already got their hands on the shoe. In her most recent Instagram post, Vanessa wrote about how she was planning to launch the shoe separately. That way, proceeds would go to her foundation directly. But it looks like Nike has somehow dishonored their agreement and started selling it by themselves.
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She also wrote about how Nike hasn’t sent any pairs yet to her family. Finally, in her caption, Vanessa asked the others who already have the shoe to inform her how they were able to procure it.
READ MORE – Why Did Nike’s Kobe Bryant Sneaker Deal End? Is a New Partnership on the Horizon?
If reports are true, Nike is dishonoring Kobe Bryant and his family
After signing a deal with Nike in the early 2000s, Kobe’s contract with Nike ended back in April. His wife, Vanessa, wanted the company to hand a lifetime deal to the Bryant estate, but they declined. That is why she decided to end their ties.
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So for this to happen barely weeks after the agreement ended is embarrassing for Nike. The speculation is that Nike mass-produced these shoes without waiting for an approval from Vanessa. These are still rumors and nothing has been confirmed yet, but it is a disappointing situation.
Fans will be hoping that they can get their hands on the shoe, but only after the issue is resolved between the Bryant family and Nike.
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