81 Nike Kobe Samples That Never Released

Rare mambas unleashed.

Kobe Bryant will soon call it a career, but he recently told us that he and Nike plan to continue making signature models post-retirement. Though his Nike line didn't launch until 2006, Kobe put together his Hall of Fame career in a series of sneakers that have revolutionized basketball footwear in terms of both performance and design.

For the game's ultimate perfectionist, finding the right look and feel in a sneaker can be an intricate process. So it's no surprise that several pairs of Nike Kobes didn't quite make it to retail. Here's a rundown of 81 samples that, for one reason or another, were never available to buy.

Kobe 1 "All-Star"

Nike Kobe 1 "All Star" Sample (2006)

Kobe 1 "Alternate All-Star"

Nike Kobe 1 "Alernate All Star" Sample (2006)

Kobe 1 "Houston"

Nike Kobe 1 "Houston" Sample (2006)

Kobe 1 "Alternate MPLS"

Nike Kobe 1 "Alternate MPLS" Sample (2006)

Kobe 2 Lite "Blackout"

Nike Kobe 2 Lite "Blackout" Sample (2007)

Kobe 3 "Tile Posite"

Nike Kobe 3 "Tile Posite" Sample (2008)

Kobe 3 Blue/Red-Gold

Nike Kobe 3 Blue/Red Gold Sample (2008)

Kobe 4 "Hybrid"

Nike Kobe 4 "Hybrid" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 4 Wear Test Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "No Flywire"

Nike Kobe 4 "No Flywire" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "Motherlover"

Nike Kobe 4 "Motherlover" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "Matador"

Nike Kobe 4 "Matador" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "Kay Yow"

Nike Kobe 4 "Kay Yow" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "Livestrong"

Nike Kobe 4 "Livestrong" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "China Snake"

Nike Kobe 4 "China Snake" Sample (2009)

Kobe 4 "McFly"

Nike Kobe 4 "McFly" Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 "Hybrid"

Nike Kobe 5 "Hybrid" Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 5 Wear Test Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 5 Wear Test Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 "Strap"

Nike Kobe 5 "Strap" Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 "Strap"

Nike Kobe 5 Purple "Strap" Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 "Bred"

Nike Kobe 5 "Bred" Sample (2009)

Kobe 5 "Rice"

Nike Kobe 5 "Rice" Sample (2010)

Kobe 5 "Wolf Grey"

Nike Kobe 5 "Wolf Grey" Sample (2010)

Kobe 5 "Blackout"

Nike Kobe 5 "Blackout" Sample (2010)

Kobe 5 "Parade"

Nike Kobe 5 "Parade" Sample (2010)

Kobe 5 "Women's Final Four"

Nike Kobe 5 "Women's Final Four" Sample (2010)

Kobe 6 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 6 Wear Test Sample (2010)

Kobe 6 "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 6 "Lakers" Sample (2011)

Kobe 6 "MPLS"

Nike Kobe 6 "MPLS" Sample (2011)

Kobe 6 "Phoenix Mercury"

Nike Kobe 6 "Phoenix Mercury" Sample (2011)

Kobe 6 "Georgetown"

Nike Kobe 6 "Georgetown" Sample (2011)

Kobe 6 "Road"

Nike Kobe 6 "Road" Sample (2011)

Kobe 6 "Product Team"

Nike Kobe 6 "Product Team" Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 "Stage Sample"

Nike Kobe 7 "Stage" Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 7 Wear Test Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 7 Wear Test Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 7 Black/White Wear Test Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 "Galaxy"

Nike Kobe 7 All Star "Galaxy" Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 "Atlanta Dream"

Nike Kobe 7 "Atlanta Dream" Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 Elite "Home"

Nike Kobe 7 Elite "Home" Sample (2011)

Kobe 7 Elite White/Purple

Nike Kobe 7 Elite White/Purple Sample (2012)

Kobe 8 "Last Chapter"

Nike Kobe 8 "Last Chapter" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Spark"

Nike Kobe 8 "Spark" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Chicago Sky"

Nike Kobe 8 "Chicago Sky" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Indiana Fever"

Nike Kobe 8 "Indiana Fever" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "LA Sparks"

Nike Kobe 8 "LA Sparks" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Tulsa Shock"

Nike Kobe 8 "Tulsa Shock" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 Grey/Orange

Nike Kobe 8 Grey/Orange Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 Orange/Mint-Blue

Nike Kobe 8 Orange/Mint Blue Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 8 "Lakers" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "Lakers Home"

Nike Kobe 8 "Lakers Home" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 SS "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 8 SS "Lakers" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 Elite "Del Sol"

Nike Kobe 8 "Del Sol" Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 Elite White/Purple

Nike Kobe 8 Elite White/Purple Sample (2013)

Kobe 8 "BHM"

Nike Kobe 8 "BHM" Sample (2014)

Kobe 8 "BHM Alternate"

Nike Kobe 8 "BHM Alternate" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Wear-Test

Nike Kobe 9 EM Wear Test Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 EM Loyal Blue/Varsity Maize-Gym Red

Kobe 9 EM Loyal Blue/Varsity Maize Gym Red Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 EM "Atlanta Dream"

Nike Kobe 9 EM "Atlanta Dream" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 9 EM "Lakers" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 EM "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 9 EM "Lakers" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Black/Gold-Yellow

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Black/Gold Yellow Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Black/Silver

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Black/Silver Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite "Bruce Lee"

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Yellow/Black Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite "Del Sol"

Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Del Sol" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Grey/Black-Yellow

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Grey/Black Yellow Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite "Maleficent"

Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Maleficent" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite "Multicolor Lakers"

Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Multicolor Lakers" Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Purple/Black-Yellow Sample

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Purple/Black Yellow Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Yellow

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Yellow Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Low Yellow/Black

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Yellow/Black Sample (2014)

Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Tour Yellow-Dark Grey

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Black/Tour Yellow Dark Grey Sample (2014)

Kobe 10 Black/Silver

Nike Kobe 10 Black/Silver Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Black/Yellow

Nike Kobe 10 Black/Yellow Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite Black/Purple

Nike Kobe 10 Elite Low Black/Purple Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite Low "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 10 Low Elite "Lakers" Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite Low White/Purple

Nike Kobe 10 Elite Low White/Purple Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite High Grey/Black-Yellow

Nike Kobe 10 Elite High Grey/Black Yellow Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers"

Nike Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers" Sample (2015)

Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers Home"

Nike Kobe 10 Elite High "Lakers Home" Sample (2015)