Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant, might've unexpectedly passed away five years ago, but his legacy continues to live on through his family, philanthropic efforts, and winning philosophy. Both the Swoosh and Three Stripes have also maintained a steady retro cycle of the NBA player's signature sneaker model, with the latter having to rebrand every design following a public fallout in 2002.
Come 2026, Bryant's oft-overlooked KB8 III from 1999 is set to return as the Adidas Crazy 3. The pair was worn in the pursuit of his first NBA title, which was ultimately won while wearing the Kobe 1 (now dubbed Crazy 1). In recent history, however, Bryant's third KB8 partly inspired the widely-popular YEEZY 500, a lifestyle-oriented sneaker informed by Adidas Basketball heritage. AdiPRENE+ cushioning and Feet You Wear tooling provided the same reliable cushioning and close-to-the-ground feel over the last decade that they did during number 8's run in the 1999-2000 NBA season.
The full lifespan of the Crazy 3 is yet to pan out, but, if past Adidas Kobe signature sneaker reissues are indicators of what to expect, the decades-old design will return in some original color schemes.
Two styles—one in "Cloud White/Core Black" and the other in "Silver Metallic"—are expected in the first-half of 2026, with at least one pair likely launching for NBA All-Star Weekend in February.
Enjoy early-looks at the rebranded KB III retros below, as you wait for firm Adidas.com release details.
For more sneaker news, check out the expansive Nike Air Max catalog.
