Nike Brought Out a 1-of-1 Kobe VI Hybrid for Eric Koston Career Retrospective

Eric Koston has had a long, storied sneaker career. In his days with eS he constructed seven signature models, including a number of Jordan-inspired puffy skate shoes from the early 2000s. At Lakai he got even more room to design signature shoes, before eventually moving over to Nike SB in 2009, where he dropped three named silhouettes, including a high-tech skate shoe with an ankle sock in his Koston 3 Hyperfeel.

Koston popped out in Vegas this weekend to do an early raffle for his upcoming Nike SB Air Max 95 colorway, and while he was in town, Nike SB put together a quick museum showcase of the skate icon’s unique Nike career. In addition to Air Max 90 Koston 1s and Koston golf shoes, Nike SB brought out a 1-of-1 Kobe collab that’s never been seen.

The Nike SB Koston Kobe Prototype is a sample of a shoe that did come out to celebrate the 2011 Nike SB Koston 1. Koston, a diehard Lakers fan, took advantage of his Nike connections to collaborate with Kobe Bryant on 24 pairs of exclusive Kobe VI Koston 1 hybrids, with a Kobe VI upper and Koston 1 sole. The shoes released at Nike Vault in LA with custom humidor boxes and Koston and Kobe-branded golf balls and immediately sold out. In June, Sotheby's sold a deadstock pair with the custom packaging for an incredible $11,430.

The prototype pair has been locked in a vault since 2011, so there’s no telling how valuable that true 1-of-1 grail is, but if the market for the 24-pair exclusive release is any indication…it’s damn-near priceless.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com