The Audi TT 8N was not just a source of inspiration for car enthusiasts. Its distinctive design also left its mark on the world of trainers. In 2000, Adidas launched ‘The Kobe’ basketball trainer, developed in collaboration with basketball player Kobe Bryant. The striking trainer featured flowing lines and a futuristic look that was strongly reminiscent of the Audi TT Roadster. A unique combination of car design and basketball, which has since become popular amongst trainer collectors too.
An Audi TT at your feet
In 2000, Adidas wanted to create something different from the traditional basketball boot. The result was ‘The Kobe’, designed by Eirik Lund Nielsen and Peter Moore, known for their work on the first Air Jordan boots, amongst other things. Derek Jenkins, then chief designer at Audi, was also involved in the development.
The source of inspiration was the Audi TT. In particular, the rounded shapes, clean lines and futuristic look of the compact sports car were reflected in the shoe’s design. The moulded synthetic upper had virtually no seams, and the three Adidas stripes were integrated into the material. Even the rubber toe cap contributed to the association with car design.
The result was a basketball shoe that looked quite different from its contemporaries. With its metallic finish, the silver-coloured version perfectly matched the design style of the Audi TT 8N.
Kobe Bryant and his early successes
Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers from the moment he joined the NBA in 1996 and was one of Adidas’s most prominent faces for many years. With ‘The Kobe’, he was given a shoe that was just as distinctive as his style of play.
Bryant wore the model during the 2000 play-offs, when the Lakers won their first NBA championship with him in their ranks. The shoe also played a part in his career during the 2001 season, when the Lakers became champions once again.
The trainer was released in various colourways, including Metallic Silver and the eye-catching Sunshine Yellow. The silver version, in particular, ties in nicely with the Audi TT. Incidentally, the collaboration wasn’t limited to this model: Adidas also developed a successor, which was received with considerably less enthusiasm.
Kobe Bryant (Philadelphia, 23 August 1978 – Calabasas, 26 January 2020) was an American basketball player. Throughout his twenty-year career, he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won five National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. His father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, also had a career in the NBA. Kobe Bryant died at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020. |  |
From The Kobe to the Crazy 1
In 2001, the successor, The Kobe Two, was released. Adidas took the futuristic design even further, but this didn’t go down well with everyone. Enthusiasts compared the shoe to, amongst other things, a toaster and a spaceship. Bryant himself was also dissatisfied with the design and the comfort. During the 2002 play-offs, he therefore reverted to the first model.
Not long after that, Bryant ended his partnership with Adidas. He bought out his contract and signed with Nike in 2003, where he would later build up his own famous range of trainers. Adidas, however, retained the rights to the original shoe design.
As the brand could no longer use the name ‘Kobe’, the shoe was released under the name ‘Crazy 1’ in subsequent reissues. The model made a comeback in 2014 and also garnered renewed attention in August 2022 with a new release.
A sneaker for collectors
Whilst the shoe initially stood out mainly for its unconventional appearance, it has since become an iconic design in the history of trainers. The combination of its futuristic look, its association with Kobe Bryant and the design inspiration drawn from the TT makes it truly special.
As well as the well-known silver and yellow versions, there are also rare samples, such as a light blue version that was never released as part of the regular range. The original ‘The Kobe’ from 2000 can now fetch substantial sums, depending on the version, condition and availability.
An Audi TT as the inspiration for a basketball shoe: not the first combination that springs to mind, but for enthusiasts it’s a lovely piece of design history.
© Header photo: Adidas