Michael Jordan received Nike’s first Black Mamba pitch before Kobe Bryant

There are only a few nicknames throughout sports history that immediately make you think of a certain player. “Sweetness” Walter Payton, Reggie Jackson known as “Mr. October” and the worst man in the world John “Bones” Jones. In basketball, the “Black Mamba” became a legend thanks to the late great Kobe Bryant. However, by the time Bryant made the nickname what it is today, it almost was Michael Jordan which nickname he got back in 2003.

Check out ours Sneaker News for more upcoming releases and the latest content!

In the story from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, Nike the creators originally intended the nickname “Black Mamba” to be attached to Michael Jordan. While Jordan is widely known as “The Black Cat” Nicknamed by many for his jaguar-like movement on the court and several colorways of the sneaker, the concept of the mamba was born during the development of the Air Jordan 19 sneaker.

Michael Jordan wanted a new concept for the 19th sneaker in his signature collection, for which the design team sought to innovate the first basketball shoe without laces. The weave locking system resembled snakeskin, so the creative team jumped at the idea of ​​branding Jordan as the “Black Mamba.”

Kobe Bryant appears as “The Black Mamba”

As it turns out, Michael Jordan was “visibly uncomfortable” during the pitch because the creative team was previously unaware of Jordan’s phobia of snakes. The mistake was a complete afterthought and Nike’s CEO distanced himself from the idea for a while. That is, until Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers left Adidas in 2003 to join Nike.

The talented but controversial talent was then dubbed the new “Black Mamba,” an alter ego of Bryant who fully embraced his mindset and play on the court. Growing up a fan of the “Kill Bill” movies, Bryant was able to transform into the “Black Mamba” en route to winning five championship rings.

Nike Kobe signature line

Nike Kobe’s signature line has grown into a phenomenon in its own right, spanning 12 namesake silhouettes and pioneering the design of the most popular basketball sneaker in the current landscape. Legendary Nike sneaker designer Eric Avar spearheaded the operation and really helped convey the Mamba mentality through a sneaker that would match the same attitude.

Several designs like Nike Kobe 3 and Nike Kobe 6 took direct inspiration from snakes, while recent releases have gone even further into the ‘Black Mamba’ moniker with an updated colorway. In the NBA today, the Nike Kobe sneaker is the most widely used shoe of any other model.

Overcoming basketball

Not only does the Nike Kobe line dominate NBA footwear, but the hottest cleats on the market right now are the Nike Kobe 6 PE sneakers worn by players in the NFL. Athletes in all sports have been inspired by Kobe Bryant’s play on the court, but it’s the Mamba mentality that transcends all sports and speaks to the competitor in all of us.

While the “Black Mamba” may not have been the obvious choice for the greatest player of all time in Michael Jordan, they couldn’t have found a better player to represent the “Black Mamba” than Kobe Bryant. He lived by that name throughout his NBA career, addressing fans in a Lakers uniform one last time by saying “Mamba out.”