Kobe Bryant’s Player Exclusive (PE) model of the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk, the world’s lightest and strongest basketball shoe, released in extremely limited quantities late May without much notice or info. That’s right, Nike produced 48 pairs (24 home models and 24 away models) of the highly sought after Hyperdunks and made them available to only two accounts in the world! On May 23, 2008, House of Hoops presented by Foot Locker (Harlem, NY) released 24 total pairs (12 of each model) of the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk Kobe Bryant PE and sold out immediately. The following day, May 24, 2008, KB24.com (Kobe Bryant’s official web site) also released 24 total pairs (again, 12 of each model) and sold out within one minute. Each pair is limited to 24 and comes encased in a special collector’s box with plexi-glass cover. Laser-engraved on the plexi-glass are the shoe’s specs and special numbering “1/24.” “PROMO SAMPLE20080226″ is printed on the shoe’s tag. It is advertised to be the world’s lightest basketball shoe. The average basketball shoe weighs in at 16.0 ounces whereas the Hyperdunks are only 13.1 ounces.
The Hyperdunk, constructed with Nike’s “Fly Wire” technology, uses wires encased in the skim to harness the body of the shoe, eliminating weight above the sole. The sole is constructed with Lunar Foam, a material developed by NASA that gives the shoe a great feel with minimal weight. The Hyperdunk is also constructed with Vectran fiber, which is five times stronger than steel so it never loses it strength. With a breathable mesh tongue and a protective heel cup, safety and comfort is assured during long flights. Quite simply, the revolutionary Hyperdunk delivers all the support a baller needs on the court with the least amount of weight. The Hyperdunk represents the future, and the future is now.
Nike has done an excellent job promoting these Hyperdunks using viral marketing tactics. If you recall recently, Nike “leaked” a video where Kobe Bryant was filmed jumping over a speeding Aston Martin in his black Hyperdunks (away model). This immediately created a buzz throughout the media and internet sneaker communities. Several weeks later, another video was “leaked” on the internet…this time showing Kobe Bryant jumping over a pool of snakes to dunk a basketball with some help from the cast and crew of “Jackass.”
As a result of the leaked videos, awareness and demand for these Hyperdunks skyrocketed. Soon after these limited edition Hyperdunk Kobe Bryant Player Exclusives released, they immediately started showing up on eBay.com. The first waves of Hyperdunk auctions have ended and they are drying up on the secondary market as shoe collectors (not resellers) are putting their Hyperdunks away in the private collections. Demand remains high but the supply is just not there. This would explain the premium prices collectors are paying for a pair of Hyperdunks. The highest recorded sale to date is upwards of $4,000, and rising!
I was able to secure a pair for The Kobe Collection from KB24.com’s 24 Store. Here are some exclusive photos of the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk Kobe Bryant Player Exclusive Away model.
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Hakeem Olajuwon (left) with Claude Johnson in Munich, 1995.
Some vintage Patrick Ewing brand basketball shoes.
