A Complete Footwear History of Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James Matchups

The Heir vs The King.

Not Available Lead
Image via Complex Original
Not Available Lead

This week one of the most-hyped games of the year is about to go down, LeBron versus Kobe — arguably the best two players to lace-up their sneakers 100+ times a year since Michael left the game. Not only have the athletic battles been epic but the sneaker face-offs (25 to date) have been impressive as well. Kobe has more rings but you could debate LeBron has always had the better kicks (we're sure he uses that argument frequently). Check out The Complete Footwear History of Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James Matchups and let us know which superstar has had the better shoes.

Jan 12, 2004

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Air Zoom Generation "Away" vs. Nike Zoom Flight 2K3 PE

In young LeBron's first face-off against Kobe he held his own doing better statistically but that sprained right shoulder Kobe suffered in the second ended his night early. Either way we have to give the nod to the kid in his inaugural shoe. Ten years later, we're ready for a retro, Nike. 

Jan 13, 2005

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron II "Away" vs. Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 PE 

 

In Kobe and LeBron's second match-up, Kobe left early again after spraining his left ankle — the Huarache 2K4 PEs were so dope though. Nike kept blessing #8 with exclusives while they worked on his first official sneaker with Team Swoosh. 

Feb 13, 2005

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 PE vs. Nike Zoom LeBron II "White/Navy"

Finally, Kobe made it past the first half and gave the people what they wanted. Both players filled up the stat sheets and LeBron flirted with a triple-double in front of the home crowd while leading the Cavs to the win. Bryant took this one on the sneaker end, those PE Huarache 2K4s are just too dope. 

Feb 20, 2005

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron II "All-Star" vs Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 "All-Star"  

In their first All-Star game together both players had a solid game, Kobe debuted his Huarache 2K5s but Bron-Bron took the crown helping lead the East to a "W" and outdoing Bryant with his "All-Star" LeBron IIs. 

Sept 11, 2005

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 PE vs. Nike Zoom LeBron II "Chamber of Fear" 

No official stats were ever revealed for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Game but much like their last All-Star match-up we have to go with LeBron in the IIs over Kobe's 2K5s. It's just different. 

Jan 12, 2006

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron III "White Navy" vs Nike Zoom Kobe I "Home/81 Points" 

LeBron was a part of damn near half of the Cavs points but it wasn't enough to take down The Lake Show. LeBron's IIIs were a great successor to his first official sneaker bearing his name but Kobe's first Nike shoe slighted them just a little — we gotta go with Kobe. 

Feb 19, 2006

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron III "All-Star" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe I "All-Star" 

LeBron took home his first MVP award, and the kicks were proper too — although not a bad first attempt by Nike and Kobe for All-Star. 

Mar 19, 2006

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron III "White/Silver" vs NIke Zoom Kobe I "Black/Black" 

Kobe didn't need Jay to co-sign the all-black movement — and the Kobe Is might not be Bryant's greatest silhouette — but these came out sick for the road games. 

Feb 11, 2007

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe II "Black/Maize" vs. Nike Zoom LeBron IV "Home" 

The IVs were a big change from LeBron's first three models and Nike did a perfect job aesthetically and tech wise to make sure the game's youngest star was staying fresh on the court. Kobe went crazy, dropping 36-7-7 but the Cavs protected the house and LeBron's sneakers got the win. 

Feb 15, 2007

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe II "Home" vs Nike Zoom LeBron IV "White/Navy" 

The Kobe II presented a unique look, but with the IVs LeBron was really becoming a brand the same way Mike was after his first couple of shoes, and even the general release sneakers went hard both on the court or on the corner. Both players dropped over 30, but again LeBron takes both Ws with the white and navy IVs. 

Feb 18, 2007

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron IV "All-Star" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe II "All-Star" 

In their third match-up in a week, Kobe and LeBron took center stage of the '07 NBA All-Star Game. Nike stepped it up with the Kobe IIs but LeBron's All-Star steeze still wasn't anything to fuck with — the graffiti design on the midsole was too cold. No worries though, Kobe took home the MVP honors which looks a little better on the Wikipedia page.

Dec 20, 2007

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron V "White/Gold" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe III "Black Mamba" 

Both superstars played their part in front of the sellout crowd at Cleveland and even though LeBron got the best of Kobe, knocking off the Lakers by four behind his 33-point, 10-rebound performance, KB again showed up LeBron with his all-black signature kicks. 

Jan 27, 2008

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron V "Black/White-Crimson" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe III "Home" 

Bron hit the 40-point mark and got the win, making Kobe's ridiculous stat line a sub-story again. The "Home" IIIs weren't Kobe's best look and the black and white Vs Bron donned stood out on the floor even from the nosebleeds of The Staple Center. 

Feb 17, 2008

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom LeBron V "All-Star" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe III "All-Star" 

Kobe laced up his All-Star IIIs just long enough to be announced as a starter and then took a seat with an injury, giving LeBron the floor to take home the MVP honors and kill it in his "All-Star" Vs. 

Jan 19, 2009

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe IV "MLK" vs. Nike Zoom LeBron VI "Los Angeles" 

Kobe missed the triple-double by a few boards and the Lakers beat the Cavaliers convincingly but LeBron still killed it on the footwear front in the "Los Angeles" designed VIs for his trip to Hollywood. LeBron's special edition kicks are damn near impossible to trump. 

Feb 8, 2009

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe IV "Carpe Diem" vs. Nike Zoom LeBron VI "Fairfax" 

LeBron broke out the Fairfax-themed VIs with the retro threads and just missed a triple-double but we gotta go with the homie KB8 with the clean but classic "Carpe Diem" IVs. 

Feb 15, 2009

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe IV "All-Star" vs. Nike Zoom LeBron VI "All-Star"

Yeah, Kobe still can't out-do LeBron's design team when it comes to All-Star kicks but the game was mostly remembered for Kobe and Shaq sharing the game's MVP award and Shaq kissing some major ass in the twilight of his career. How'd that ass taste, Shaq-Fu? 

Dec 25, 2009

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe V "Chaos" vs. Nike Air Max LeBron VII "Christmas" 

In Kobe and LeBron's first Christmas battle, the Cavaliers bodied the Lakers on their home floor and LeBron's first Christmas shoe was a success, once again topping Nike's creation for Kobe for a national game. 

Jan 21, 2010

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Air Max LeBron VII "Hardwood Classics" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe V "White/Black-Varsity Purple" 

Cleveland rocked the retro away unis at home and LeBron went off again against Kobe and Cali's finest. The Mamba came correct with the white and purple Zoom Vs but The King's "Hardwood Classics" were too much — another one for LJ23. 

Dec 25, 2010

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Air Max LeBron 8 "Christmas" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe VI "Grinch" 

In Kobe and LeBron's first Chrismas battle the Cavaliers bodied the Lakers on their home floor, but the "Grinch' Kobe VIs still remain one of Bryant's greatest kicks to date. The "Christmas" LeBrons are legit but Kobe's holiday shoe is a no-brainer — even A-List celebs sitting courtside got a pair. 

Feb 20, 2011

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe VI "All-Star" vs. Nike Air Max LeBron 8 "All-Star"

If you haven't noticed a common theme, LeBron's All-Star kicks are always on point and the 8s didn't fall off, but 2011 was Bryant's year. The Mamba dropped 37 and 14 in front of his home crowd and did it in true fashion in the red "All-Star" VIs, earning another ASG MVP nod even with LeBron recording a triple-double.  

Mar 10, 2011

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe VI "Black/Dark Grey" vs. Nike Air Max LeBron 8 PE

Jan 19, 2012

Not Available Interstitial

Nike LeBron 9 "Blackout" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Supreme Black/Tour Yellow" 

There weren't any drastic changes in the Kobe IVs - VIs but then the VIIs dropped with a sleeve to save your ankles from breaking on the court. LeBron's all-black 9s were pretty sick, especially with the white laces — we see you, Bron! — but Kobe's VIIs were just better. 

Mar 4, 2012

Not Available Interstitial

Nike LeBron 9 "Fairfax" vs. Nike Zoom Kobe VII "White/Del Sol" 

James rocked L.A.'s Fairfax High influenced kicks on the Lakers home floor. LeBron's sneakers were better than Kobe's general release "Del Sol's," but Kobe and company knocked off the future champs behind Bryant's 33 in the mask. 

Feb 26, 2012

Not Available Interstitial

Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Galaxy" vs. Nike LeBron 9 "Galaxy" 

Even David Stern couldn't keep Bron-Bron from shining or glowing with a work stoppage. Nike put out one of it's best All-Star lineups yet with the "Galaxy"-themed kicks for the big game. Kobe's VIIs went hard (and the West won) but it was LeBron who was once again victorious in the sneaker battle.