Demand for Kobe Bryant Merch Surges at Nike, Resale Sites Following His Death

After Kobe Bryant’s sudden death on Sunday, fans are paying their respects to the late basketball legend by purchasing his sneakers and jerseys. But the companies selling Kobe merch are struggling to determine whether they should profit from his likeness.

At Nike...plans to release a new colorway of Kobe-themed sneakers on February 7 may be postponed, sources told ESPN.

• Nike said Tuesday that all Kobe Bryant merchandise had sold out online.
• Searches for Bryant’s products, which have been offered at Nike since 2003, redirect to a tribute page.

For resale vendors...“real-life events have ramifications on market performance,” StockX said in a statement. By that, it means prices for consigned Kobe sneakers are surging as much as 400%.

• StockX is not preventing sellers from bumping up Kobe merch prices, but it will donate proceeds from Kobe sales this week to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.
• Urban Necessities, however, will not allow price changes on previously listed Kobe items.
• Stadium Goods is not accepting new Kobe merchandise for now.

Looking ahead...Bryant’s footwear legacy will likely endure on the court. This season, over 100 NBA players sported his sneakers.