Nike boss Mark Parker, who once worked as a sneaker designer, put his stamp on the latest tribute style to retired NBA player Kobe Bryant. The Kobe 11 Muse Pack boasts small details reflecting the black mamba snake.
Nike said Parker brought reptilian details to life on the shoe, such as in the style’s reworked Flyknit pattern and laces to the shoe’s underbelly.
“Even though he has a large business to run, Mark still takes time to mentor me,” Bryant said in a statement.
The retired Los Angeles Laker, who played his last NBA game in April, has worked with Parker since the launch of the Nike Huarache 2K4, the shoe Bryant wore after signing with Nike in 2003.
According to Bryant, “Mark has created an environment of creativity. He strikes me as a quiet guy, but I think he’s very pensive. And he enjoys thought and working through situations.”
Parked helped develop the style with top designers Tinker Hatfield and Eric Avar.
