Before the late Kobe Bryant laced up Nike’s as a signature athlete, he was an official member of adidas. He was with the Brand with the Three Stripes from 1996 to 2003. During that time frame several signature sneakers were made for the Black Mamba and released. While only two were labeled “The Kobe,” KB8’s were the introduction into his footwear legacy.
Confirmed in early 2021, adidas is set to bring back two classic Kobe Bryant signature silhouettes, the Kobe 1 as well as the EQT Elevation. First up is the EQT Elevation, which is now known as the adidas Crazy 97 EQT. The original Lakers-themed purple, black and white colorway is up first. Nicknamed the “Dunk Contest” edition, Bryant originally laced this pair up during the 1997 NBA Dunk Contest which was held in Cleveland. Coincidentally, the 2022 NBA All-Star festivities will be held in Cleveland, making for a great tie-in for the upcoming drop.
Keeping things OG, the adidas Crazy 97 EQT “Dunk Contest” sports a purple-based leather upper with black and white accents. Gold branding is found via the embroidered Three Stripes branding on the tongue and Feet You Wear holograms (on the tongue and lateral sides).
The adidas Crazy 97 EQT is set to release on February 12th, 2022. It will launch at adidas as well as select retailers both in-store and online. They will be available in men’s sizes retailing for $130. Keep it locked to our Twitter andMobile App to stay up to date on future releases. Looking for a full rundown on the Kobe sneaker? Check out our Kobe Buyers Guide and our Nike Kobe Release Date page for the latest upcoming releases.
adidas Crazy 97 EQT "Dunk Contest"
Color: Purple/Black/White
Style Code: GY4520
Release Date: 02/12/2022
Price: $130
Images via adidas
Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
