Sabrina Ionescu New Shoes: Are They a Kobe Knockoff?

In the sneaker world, any similarity in shoe designs can spark controversy. Fans don’t take kindly to what they see as copies, even if the footwear comes from an identical brand. Recently, LeBron James faced grievance for his 21s, which a few fanatics thought resembled Kobe Bryant’s footwear. Now, WNBA megastar Sabrina Ionescu’s shoes are facing similar backlash for her trendy release, as some fans feel her design is too much like Kobe’s.

Also read: Top 7 Kevin Durant Shoes: Best Nike KD Sneakers Ever

When Sabrina Ionescu’s first shoe, the Sabrina 1, became released, it became the most a success release. Ever via a ladies’ basketball player. She became thrilled to look at humans excited about her design, even looking to shout her pleasure while she noticed others sporting her shoes. By July 2024, she was simply as excited about the following step for her signature line.

Sabrina paid attention to every detail of the Sabrina 2 to ensure it was well-received. She wanted people to feel a personal connection with the shoe as soon as they opened the box, aiming for it to truly resonate with her fans.

The first shoe in Sabrina Ionescu’s collection was a violet “Court Vision” with a black reflective swoosh. She also released an Icy Blue “Conductor” and a red “United” colorway, which she wore during the finals. Instead of the usual white swoosh, she had a gold one, which many believe brought her good luck.

Read more: Nike Celebrates Kobe Bryant Shoes and Gigi with ‘Girl Dad’ and ‘Halo’ Protro

Following her Olympic gold win, Sabrina Ionescu is launching her new “Mirrored Colorway” shoe. It features black, metallic silver, and smoke gray colors, with a yellow Nike logo on the outsole. The shoe features a reflective logo on the sides and displays her personal “S” logo on the tongue. The shoes are priced at $130 for adults and $100 for kids.

The Sabrina Ionescu 2 shoe is 28 grams lighter than the Sabrina 1 but still offers the same softness and support. It features a new Cushlon 3.0 foam midsole, a first for basketball shoes. While the original Sabrina Ionescu shoes were very popular, the new colorway of the Sabrina 2 hasn’t received the same level of enthusiasm from fans.

Nike and Sabrina Ionescu Face Backlash from Fans Over Kobe Tribute

Fans believe Sabrina Ionescu’s new sneaker carefully resembles the Kobe five Blackout. On StockX, Kobe Bryant’s shoes sell for between $200 and $899, and since the black edition is not available, fans annoyed. One fan even referred to as it “Cheap KOBE” to explicit their disappointment.

Some fans also think it’s disrespectful that the Sabrina 2 is priced lower than the Kobe 5 Blackout. They feel that using her shoe as a budget version of Kobe’s model is unfair. While there are similarities between the two shoes, they also have distinct differences. One fan even compared the Sabrina 2 to another Nike athlete’s shoe.

Fans say the Sabrina 2 looks very similar to the JA2. The JA2, currently only available in the ‘Stargazer’ colorway, features a purple rubber sole, a darker purple midsole, and white spots that resemble a galaxy. Some fans believe the design draws inspiration from Kobe Bryant because of their close relationship.

Read also: Sabrina Ionescu Shoes Nike Sabrina 2 “Mirrored” Drops August 15th

Sabrina Ionescu mentored by Kobe Bryant during her time at UConn and has often shown her appreciation for him. She continues to honor him by mentoring others and even runs to the Bryant family after the Olympic finals. Some fans think the similarity between Sabrina Ionescu’s shoes and Kobe’s is due to her admiration for him, with one fan commenting, She copied Kobe shoes; I know she’s a big Kobe fan.

During the finals, members of the men’s team, including Jrue Holiday and Derrick White from the Celtics, also wore the Nike Sabrina 2s. A fan pointed out their popularity by saying, She makes the best shoes in the WNBA. Whether Sabrina Ionescu shoes are similar to Kobe’s or just inspired by them remains to be seen, and we’ll have to wait for Sabrina to clarify.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us for the next episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host BG12 will be talking with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team member, Asia Avinger.