EXCLUSIVE: Nike SB OG P-Rod Talks Kobe’s Influence and His Lifelong Love of the Lakers

When Nike first started its skate subdivision, Nike SB, in 2002, industry vets and pro skaters were skeptical of a corporate big dog like The Swoosh entering the culture. Thankfully, it’s become one of the best footwear brands to ride for in all of skateboarding, and the legendary Paul Rodriguez helped break the ice for the rest of the scene. P-Rod officially joined Nike SB in 2004 and became its first signature athlete with the P-Rod 1 in 2005.

Over the course of the next dozen or so years, Nike SB would release 10 different signature sneakers for P-Rod, finishing with the P-Rod 10 in 2017. With 10 sneakers under his belt, Rodriguez joined elite company for The Swoosh and signature athletes in general. He is one of only five athletes in Nike’s history to have more than 10 signature sneakers, the others all being NBA players: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and, of course, Kobe Bryant.

Bryant and P-Rod crossed paths a few times over the years, from a skate commercial where the two link up to P-Rod making a cameo in one of the Black Mamba’s #KobeSystem ad spots. But being from LA, his connection to Bryant was much deeper than just being fellow Nike athletes; Rodriguez is a die-hard Lakers fan for life.

For P-Rod’s latest release from Nike SB, a retro of his Nike SB P-Rod 1 sneaker, which was first re-released to commemorate the model’s 20th birthday in 2024, he’s making a clear nod to Kobe Bryant. Inspired by the 2011 All-Star jersey Bryant wore for the West team, the Nike SB P-Rod 1 in Sport Red Metallic Gold directly mirrors this uni. A fitting tribute to one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

Sole Retriever was fortunate enough to speak with Paul Rodriguez in person at INNERCITY skate shop in Los Angeles, getting some insight on P-Rod’s love for the Lakers, Kobe’s influence, and maybe even more P-Rod sneaker retros in the future. Our full conversation has been edited for clarity. You can check out clips from our chat over on Sole Retriever’s Instagram.

Sole Retriever: Growing up in the Valley, were you able to go to Lakers games much in your youth?

P-Rod: In my youth, I went to maybe like a couple, right? My dad took me to my first Lakers game, I believe it was against the Utah Jazz. So that must have been, it was definitely in the ‘90s. It was probably when Karl Malone was playing and John Stockton. So, early ‘90s, maybe ‘93, ‘94. That was my first experience. 

That was still at the Great Western Forum, that was before Staples Center. So, that was pretty cool to be able to catch a game at that place where the Showtime Lakers played. But after that, once Staples Center opened, I got to start going to games a little more.

But really, when my going to games really ramped up was once I got with Nike and I got connections. They started giving me tickets more often and hooked me up. They even put me on the floor a few times, so that's pretty cool. I didn't get to go to as many games as I would have liked to, but I made up for it once I got with Nike.

SR: What are your favorite Kobe memories growing up?

P-Rod: My favorite Kobe memories would have just been any time in the NBA finals. Even though it was a sad memory, I really loved the series in 2008 against the Celtics. It was just a hard-fought battle. 

I really just loved watching his competitive aggressiveness really come out. I would study that because for me, being a competitive skateboarder, anytime I would go skate a contest, I would try to learn and adopt that mindset from him. Obviously, what would be called the Mamba Mentality. I would try to learn from him and apply that into my competitive field. So, that was a lot of stuff, a lot of memories I had.

But, I was fortunate enough to get to meet Kobe on many occasions. So, I'll always cherish those moments.

The first time I met him was probably like 2004, 2005, early on in my Nike career. I was fortunate enough to meet him many times throughout that period. He made a cameo in my commercial. I was blessed with being able to make a cameo in one of his commercials, so anytime I got to just hang out with him and have a quick interaction, a couple words with him, was really special to me.

SR: What was it like when you found out he was going to be a part of the commercial?

P-Rod: Oh my gosh, dude. I was so excited. I was a little nervous because they were like, “So he's going to come. He's only got like 30 minutes. We want this scene where he's walking up the stairs, and you guys are doing the tricks down the stairs. So, we don't have that many takes.”

So, I was like nervous, like damn, what if I mess up? But thankfully, myself and Mr. Eric Koston were able to get our tricks in a couple tries. No problem, thank God.

Kobe was pretty impressed that we could jump and flip our boards downstairs. He was like, “That's a trip,” he was like, “That was nuts.” So, that was a pretty great day, but I was a little nervous for sure. I was like, “Man, I don't want to be bailing in front of Kobe, bro. I got to be clutch, man. This is a clutch moment, I got to do this.”

SR: The first season of the Professional Skateboard League just started. Any plans for an All-Star game? Who would be your early All-Star picks?

P-Rod: I’m sure PSL will get to a point where they will do All-Star battles. I don't know that it will happen this season, but so far it's off to a really good start. Team SHS, we had a hard time our first round out, but we're going to learn from that. We're coming back. It's alright, you never count us out.

But who would be my All-Star pick? If I had to pick an All-Star team, obviously I'd pick all the captains, right? Zach Saraceno, Chris Joslin, Nyjah, Ishod, Jamie Foy, and myself. Oh, and Felipe Gustavo. But you can only have six people on the team, so I guess... Sorry, Felipe.

SR: We’ve seen the basketball hoop set up in your private skate park. Are there any pro skaters who are notably good hoopers?

P-Rod: You're talking to him. I'm not great at actually hooping, but I shoot around every day. I got a pretty good shot. I don't actually play many one-on-ones or three-on-threes or anything that often, because old Uncle P-Rod got to save his legs for skateboarding. But Ishod Wair is a really good baller. He can hoop. Who else am I thinking of? There are some, and I'm going to be mad at myself for not thinking of them, because I'll probably be driving home later and realize, like, Ah, I should have said that. But right now, Ishod is the one that pops up in my mind.

SR: The P-Rod One retro has been a big hit. Any plans to follow it up with a retro of the Two?

P-Rod: If it's up to me, we're retroing them all. Every 20-year anniversary, we're going. Until we get to the 40-year, and we'll bring this back. But there is no official plans. God willing, all you guys out there enjoyed this so much and loved bringing back the P-Rod One, that hopefully you guys create a little demand for it and put a little pressure on our people over here at Nike SB about bringing out the two. That would be a dream, to just keep bringing out the collection. So I can't officially say that that's happening, but if I can get a little help from my people out there, you know, we can do this together.

SR: What are your favorite Easter eggs, if any, on this sneaker?

P-Rod: Let me try to think. Easter eggs.

Details in general would be this inside “PR” logo. I like the diamond back, the way they stitched [the Swoosh]. That wasn't very technologically sound, but you get what I'm saying. The reason I like that is because Kobe is the Mamba, and you know, diamondback, snakes I wanted to make that connection, add that little Mamba nod.

The suede is pigskin suede, I believe, so it's not your normal standard suede. It's a more luxurious suede is what it is. It's an elevated, luxurious shoe. It pops, man. It just really just looks good to the eye, and I'm really proud of it.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com

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