“Cheap Kobe”: NBA World accuses Sabrina Ionescu’s latest Nike sneaker of imitating the Lakers legend

A similarity in shoe design is frowned upon in the sneaker world. Aside from the companies, sneaker fans don’t care if the shoes are from the same brand. Previously, LeBron James’ 21s drew the ire of fans as they claimed it was a copy of Kobe Bryant’s sneaker. Now, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu is facing a similar issue from a certain section of fans after her latest release.

When Sabrina 1 came out, it became the most successful shoe ever launched by a female basketball player. The Liberty star was overjoyed when he saw it.”I tried to shout out the window that I love her shoe,” “she said when she saw someone decorating her shoe. In July 2024, she was no less excited about the next stop her first signature shoe had taken her to.

She had immersed herself in the smallest details to make Sabrina 2 popular with everyone. “I wanted consumers to be able to open the box and see themselves in the shoe,” she said about Women’s Health.

The first model in her collection was in “Court Vision,” a shade of purple with a reflective black Swoosh. Also released were the “Conductor” colorway in Icy Blue and the “United” colorway in red, which she wore in the final. Instead of the normal white Swoosh, she wore a gold Swoosh, which you could say brought her luck.

After winning the Olympic gold, Sabrina Ionescu is now ready to launch the “mirrored colorway.” It has basic elements in black, metallic silver, and smoke gray. There is also a yellow Nike logo on the outsole. The logo on the sides is, as the name suggests, a reflective logo. Not to forget, Sabrina’s personal “S” logo is prominently featured on the tongue. The price is $130 for adult unisex and $100 for grade school, according to various sources.

Designed to be 28 grams lighter than the Sabrina 1, it’s still just as soft and supportive. It features a new Cushlon 3.0 foam midsole, making it the first basketball shoe to feature this feature. But as much as the first edition was loved, the new colorway of the Sabrina 2 didn’t impress many.

Fans insult Nike and Sabrina Ionescu for disrespecting Kobe

According to fan theories, Sabrina Ionescu’s latest sneaker is very similar to the Kobe 5 Blackout. On StockX, the Kobe Bryant can be purchased with one bid, and the previous retail price ranged from $200 to $899. Given that retro models, especially the black edition, are no longer being sold, fans expressed their frustration. One fan wrote: “Cheap KOBE.”

While the other found it disrespectful because Sabrina 2 was relatively cheaper than Kobe 5 Blackout.”The fact that you all use their shoe as a budget Kobe model is absolutely disrespectful.“There are similarities, but at the same time the shoes feel different. However, one fan compared it to the shoe of another Nike athlete.

“They didn’t lie, it looks exactly like the JA2.“So far, JA2 has only leaked in the “Stargazer” colorway. It features a purple rubber sole and a darker purple midsole with white spots that mimic a galaxy design. However, some fans believe it was inspired by Kobe since their relationship was so close.

Sabrina was mentored by Kobe in her later years at UConn. She has often expressed her gratitude and even paid tribute to him in her own way for the role he played in her life. She continues to honor him today by mentoring Bianka and, more recently, by walking to the Bryant family sidelines after the Olympic finals. Some believe this is a valid reason for the similarity in the shoes.”“She definitely copied Kobe’s shoes. I know she’s a huge Kobe fan.” wrote one.

Speaking of the finals, the men’s team players also wore Nike Sabrina 2s. The Celtics duo Jrue Holiday and Derreck White wore them throughout the tournament. And one fan rightly pointed out their popularity.”They make the best shoes in the WNBA.”

Do you agree that Sabrina Ionescu and Kobe Bryant’s sneakers are similar? Or is this just an inspiration? We’ll have to wait for Liberty Star to reveal it.

“Stay tuned for more updates like this and join us for the exciting second episode of the Dual Threat Show when our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team selection Asia Avinger.”