Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles is one of the quirkiest players in basketball, from his skill set to his Kobe Bryant shoe choice.
Ingles has worn the Nike Kobe A.D. Mid for 162 consecutive games dating back to the start of last season, despite the fact Nike no longer manufactures the shoe.
The 32-year-old Australian explained he feels the shoe is comfortable, also noting it serves as a fond memory of facing Kobe Bryant in his final NBA game in 2016.
“Ten years ago, I never thought I was going to be playing in the NBA, let alone in [Bryant's] last game,” Ingles said. “One of the coolest things that ever happened was playing in that game and him signing the shoes, when Nike made us all a shoe, and it had the date of the game on it and all that stitched into it.”
As his consecutive games streak grows, he plans to keep wearing sneakers from Bryant's line. Just maybe not the latest ones.
“I'll wear the Kobe until no one else is kind of wearing it and as everyone else moves to the next one, I'll move to the one everyone has now,” he said.
Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash in January, would have turned 42 on Sunday. But while The Black Mamba is gone, his stamp can be found throughout the league.
Youngsters like Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum continue to put on for Bryant — one of their role models growing up — and Ingles is rocking a vintage Kobe sneaker, even if it has gone slightly out of style.
Ingles hopes the sneakers bring him the Jazz good luck in the playoffs. Utah is holding a 2-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets.
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