Nike designers spent the last four years developing the shoe, which looks like half sock, half traditional soccer shoe. It’s a strange-looking piece of footwear, but this odd form has a purpose.

Nike Unveils The Kobe 9 Elite, $225 Hightop Socks Kobe Bryant’s latest shoes include red laces in the back that showcase his recent achilles injury. In other words, the Kobe 9 is a portrait of ...