Kobe Bryant and designer Eric Avar have provided us with cutting edge sneakers that push the limits of innovation for slightly over a decade. The two revolutionized basketball shoes by creating an uncommon "lowtop" sneaker in the Kobe 4. Since then, the Kobe signature line cut off more and more height with the Kobe 5 through 10, and now 11. The signature Kobe 9 sneaker was the first basketball shoe to feature Flyknit which was only made available through the Kobe "Elite" series with the 9 and 10. I've always wanted a general (not limited/overpriced) Flyknit basketball shoe and Kobe and Avar answered my prayers. The Nike Kobe 11 has not only utilized Flyknit, but the material within the woven upper has been made stronger by adding thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) threads without adding any weight. The Kobe 11 also features a drop sole, similar to the Kobe 8 in which players will feel lower to the ground and more in control. The shoe also provides loads of comfort with full length Lunar and Zoom Air on the heel.

The Kobe 11 begins its lifecycle with the launch of the "Achilles Heel" colorway. The shoe features deep red and black Flyknit which point to the Greek hero Achilles, who only had one weakness - his heel. The back of the shoe features story-telling graphics very similar to the rest of Kobe Bryant's signature shoes. The right heel features a graphic representation of the Greek god while the left heel features four stitch marks which represent the four feet of thread used in Kobe's 2013 achilles surgery.

Learn more about the upcoming Nike Kobe 11 at Nike.