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11. Nike Zoom Kobe III
The Good: With the IV’s impending breakout season just around the corner, the 3 proved to be a lost-in-the-shuffle model for the series. The high cut was backed by a plush and comfortable mesh liner, and the shoe’s exaggerated outrigger was tremendously supportive on cuts and drives.
The Bad: It’s as if this shoe was made with the blacktop in mind first, and the hardwood as a second priority. The diamond-inspired traction pattern (Kobe had just named his recently-born daughter Natalia Diamante…) didn’t work great indoors, and left you swiping often in hopes of solid grip. The rubber-engulfed upper was great for dealing with outdoor abrasion, but not entirely necessarily for the indoor game. The shoe also had an odd stance to it, as the heel dipped, when you’d actually want to feel like you were playing on your toes.
