Somebody get Jalen Rose into therapy right now.
Rose knows he'll never be able to live down Kobe Bryant's 81 point game, but the repressed memories are going to be brought back into the forefront in 2026, because the "81 Point" Nike Kobe 1 is officially returning. According to Sneaker Files and @zSneakerheadz, who originally leaked the news on Thursday, the shoe is confirmed for a Spring 2026 release date, and will mirror the design of the original.
The silhouette, of course, was first worn by Bryant during that historic 81 point game on January 22, 2006, eventually being released as a limited-edition shoe the following year. The shoe then got an updated take in 2019 to celebrate its 13th anniversary. Official release dates haven't been confirmed at the time of this writing, but more updates are expected in the coming months. Some believe the sneaker will be released exactly on January 22, 2026, though we'll obviously have to wait and see.
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In the meantime, fans can also look forward to the Nike Kobe 4 "CHBL"(Chinese High School Basketball League). Decked out in a bright yellow colorway, the silhouette pays tribute to the Chinese School Basketball League, and includes matching yellow laces and a texturized gradient pattern that transitions into a solid white color near the upper heel.
The sneaker also includes Kobe's infamous "Touch the line" statement he made while calling out (in Kobe style, of course), a young basketball player during a 2016 visit to Shanghai.
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