In the history of athlete/designer collaborations, Michael Jordan's work with Tinker Hatfield is the perhaps the most famous. But there's another duo whose work is just as impressive—Kobe Bryant and Eric Avar. Over the course of a decade, they've redefined how signature shoes come to life, revived the low-top, and won multiple championships and gold medals (or at least Kobe has). With the Kobe 10 about to drop, we went to Los Angeles to speak with this duo about Kobe's ultra-competitive nature and how it impacts both his shoe and his game.

Prototype: Kobe Bryant, Eric Avar, and the Inside Story of the Kobe X

We’ve all seen what Kevin Durant can do on the hardwood. The dazzling highlights, the unstoppable scoring, the six All-Star appearances, the MVP award. We know he’s an archetype for the future of basketball. He’s a hybrid player, with a do-everything skill-set. But is Kevin Durant a humble, quiet kid from Washington D.C. or a ruthless, cold-blooded competitor? Or is he somehow both at once? We talked to people from throughout KD’s life on and off the court to find out more about this incredibly versatile superstar, and the process of perfecting his signature shoe.

Prototype Ep. 2 – The Inside Story of the KD8

American football player Victor Cruz, Nike innovators and scientists, and a sweating thermal manikin explain why thermoregulation matters to performance.

The Science of Just Right

Acclaimed playwright and poet Lemon Andersen delivered a special poem to LeBron James 

Nike Basketball - The Akronite By Lemon Andersen

The combination of LeBron's deep-rooted Akron values and otherworldly talent has led to incredible success, both on the basketball court and far beyond it. When LeBron recently signed an unprecedented lifetime deal with Nike, it reflected his status as an international icon whose sphere of influence extends from sports into style, entrepreneurship, entertainment, and charitable endeavors. But how did a skinny kid from Akron end up here? Guided by LeBron himself, along with help from director Judd Apatow and childhood friend and high school teammate Willie McGee, we trace his journey. Along a path that begins all the way back in middle school, we discover that LeBron’s athletic talent and relentless work ethic are accompanied by yet another crucial characteristic -- and one that everyone would be wise to adopt themselves. 

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