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by Brandon Richard
As of now, the Nike Kobe 11 is expected to release in early January, with a slew of colorways to follow through spring. But as Kobe Bryant's career appears to be closer to its end, Nike may be moving up the launch date.
According to Sporting News, sources are indicating that the timetable on the Kobe 11 launch has been moved up to mid-December, shortly after rolling out the Kyrie 2. They added that they're unsure whether that means a release or just an unveiling, but Nike didn't unveil the Kobe 10 until Jan. 31 last year.
One could assume that a change in release date could be the result of Bryant's fading health and this potentially being his final stand as an on-court endorser. Extending the Kobe 11 window could allow Nike to tell more stories as this legendary career winds down.
In past months, there have been rumors that famed Air Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield is leading the team for the Kobe 11. That information is unconfirmed, but the last time Hatfield designed an eleventh signature model, he changed the industry.
More on this story as it develops.
