Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Vanessa Bryant Outraged Over Apparent Nike Gianna Tribute Shoe Release

In 2003, Kobe Bryant signed his first contract with Nike, after spending the first seven years of his professional career in a partnership with Adidas.

Bryant’s final contract with Nike expired an not renewed by Kobe’s wife Vanessa, due to her goal of making Kobe products available to all of his fans.

But her frustration with Nike, due to limiting the availability of Kobe products during his retirement and after his death, has now gotten worse.

The reason: Leaked images of a shoe honoring Gigi Bryant that she designed, but decided against selling, and that weren’t approved by her.

After an a photo of the shoes surfaced on Instagram Vanessa, issued following statement:

“I do not know how someone else has their hands on shoes I designed in honor of my daughter, Gigi, and we don’t. I hope these shoes did not get sold. … If someone can share how they have these shoes in their possession, that would be great because my daughters and I don’t have any of Gigi’s MAMBACITA shoes.”