On September 9th Beijing time, the well-known American media HoopsHype published the NBA sneaker survey data for last season. The Kobe series is the top choice among players, with as many as 136 players wearing Kobe shoes, followed by the Durant series (30 players). The detailed rankings (including NBA and WNBA) and analysis are as follows—

1. Kobe (136 players), 2. Durant (30 players), 3. Booker (28 players), 4. Ionescu (27 players), 5. James (17 players), 6. Harden (15 players), 7. Irving Nike (13 players), 8. Giannis (11 players), 9. Mitchell, Irving Anta (both 10 players), 11. Morant (9 players), 12. Lillard (8 players), 13. Tatum (6 players), 14. Wade, Curry (both 5 players).

Basketball and sneaker culture have always been closely linked. Since Nike signed Michael Jordan to a $2.5 million endorsement deal in 1984, sneakers have become one of the main ways fans and players express themselves. The shoes players choose on the court not only reflect their personal style and character but also carry the influence of their signature shoe fan base.

Among all sneakers, one iconic series is chosen by NBA players far more frequently than others—the signature shoes of the late legendary star Kobe Bryant. Most players in the league grew up watching Kobe play, witnessing his multiple championships during their formative basketball years. Kobe is the “idol player” for many athletes: whether due to personal admiration or simply liking the shoe design, 136 players made Kobe series their primary sneakers last season.

Among those who chose the Kobe series, most favored the Kobe 6. Designed by Eric Avar and first released in 2010, this shoe features a snakeskin-like texture on the upper, a striking detail paying tribute to Kobe’s “Black Mamba” nickname.

According to ShoePalace, a US chain sneaker retailer, the Kobe 6’s lasting popularity partly stems from its numerous colorways. Its simple silhouette provides a perfect “canvas” for vibrant color combinations, such as the bright blue “Dodgers” edition, the WNBA-inspired “Vibrant Orange,” and the most popular fluorescent green-red “Grinch” and its inverse version. Data shows that 21 NBA players wore these two Christmas-themed Kobe 6 colorways last season.

Following the Kobe series, the next most popular signature shoes are the KD17 (Durant), Book1 (Booker), and Sabrina 2 (Ionescu).

After Ionescu comes James, who has released dozens of signature shoes over his 20+ year career, followed by Harden’s futuristic designs. Harden is the first non-Nike affiliated player on the list, highlighting Nike’s continued dominance in the basketball sneaker market.

Last season, 65% of NBA players wore Nike shoes as their main sneakers; including its sub-brands Jordan (Air Jordan) and Converse, this figure rises to nearly 75%. Adidas holds 10% market share, followed by Puma (signing stars like LaMelo Ball and Brianna Stewart), Chinese brand Anta (signing Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson), New Balance (signing Kawhi Leonard), and Under Armour (signing Stephen Curry).

This raises the question: if Kobe had not given up his initial contract with Adidas, would so many players today still choose his signature shoes? Kobe signed with the German brand early in his career but switched quickly to Nike under Phil Knight after releasing the controversial “Kobe 2.”

However, Adidas is gradually regaining favor with younger consumers. Among the six signature shoe lines with the youngest average NBA player age, three belong to Adidas-signed stars, including Lillard, Harden, and Mitchell.

In terms of player age, Curry’s signature shoes have the oldest average wearer: besides 37-year-old Curry himself, his 35-year-old brother Seth Curry and 38-year-old James Johnson (outside Curry’s sub-series) also frequently wear this line. Similarly, veteran players James and Durant’s signature shoes are more popular among players over 30.

By player position, James and Durant’s signature shoes are favored by forwards and centers—which makes sense since both are forwards and their shoe designs cater to their playing style. Likewise, guards Booker and Harden’s signature shoes are preferred by guard players.

James’s two Lakers teammates, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both have their own signature shoes. Reaves partnered with Chinese brand Rigorer to release his signature shoe. Last season, besides Reaves, Grizzlies’ G.G. Jackson also wore Reaves’s AR2 signature shoe.