Kobe Bryant Gets Nike Shoe Tribute From McIlroy At Augusta, New China-Themed Ad

Rory McIlroy opened The Masters "with a tribute" to fellow Nike endorser Kobe Bryant, wearing "Kobe-inspired Nike golf shoes throughout his first round," according to Andrew Joseph of USA TODAY. McIlroy's shoes were "complete with the black and gold colors, and there was a '4/13' written on the sides." Bryant will play the final game of his career on April 13 (USATODAY.com, 4/7). ADWEEK's Tim Nudd noted with Bryant's last game fast approaching, Nike and Wieden + Kennedy, Shanghai, have "created a stirring a 60-second tribute commercial." Shanghai-based W+K Creative Dir Terence Leong said, "Kobe has an intimate relationship with the Chinese ballers, so he knows exactly how to teach and motivate them. Together with Nike China and Kobe, our team crafted the script and made sure the film was just as provocative as the man himself. It was an intense and uncompromising process because Kobe was just as demanding on the creative team as he was on the Lakers" (ADWEEK.com, 4/7).

MAMBA MERCH: AEG on Thursday "announced a slew of exclusive Bryant '24 Collection' items leading up to his career finale" Wednesday against the Jazz at Staples Center. In L.A., Mike Bresnahan notes the "costliest item is a black lamb-leather New Era cap with an 18-karat gold '24' on the front" that retails for $38,024. For those "looking to save a little money, AEG also offers a purple diamond cashmere cap for $24,008." There is a jersey with a "snake-print body that details Bryant's career accomplishments up and down the inseam" that costs $824. AEG is also "selling caps to commemorate Bryant's 81-point game 10 years ago." The caps "feature Swarovski crystals and his points per quarter from that night embossed on four side panels." Each cap "costs $248.24" and only 248 "were made" (L.A. TIMES, 4/8). ESPN's David Jacoby said of expensive Bryant gear, "Some of this merchandise is absolutely ridiculous. Most ridiculous is they have a hat made by New Era that costs $38,000. It is made of lambskin and snakeskin, a reference to Bryant's 'Black Mamba' nickname. It contains 3.5 ounces of 18-carat gold in the shape of his number 24 on the cap's front." ESPN's Jalen Rose, "You have to appreciate all of the companies trying to pitch in and get some free money off of Kobe retiring, playing for a Laker team that is going nowhere, but the stands are going to be full, the game is going to be covered. If I am a company that has any interest of making money, I am trying to piggyback off of it as well" ("Jalen & Jacoby," ESPNews, 4/8).