Zoom Kobe 5 ‘Chaos’ 2009

n 2009, Kobe Bryant’s Christmas Day sneaker hadn’t gone full “Grinch” mode yet, instead opting for a different theme altogether. This Nike Kobe 5 was inspired by DC Comics supervillain the Joker, although it wasn’t an officially licensed collaboration. Specifically, it was said to take inspiration from Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the villain in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film The Dark Knight. True to its theme, the pair mimicked the character’s clown-like white makeup on the upper with red-speckled shoelaces (and a small hit on the outsole) representing his smile. The bulk of the upper is draped purple and green, seemingly standing in for both his hair and outfits.

Somehow, the literally chaotic mix of colors blended together well on the low-top Kobe 5, creating a colorway that would go on to become a modern-day classic. Ten years after its original launch, the “Chaos” colorway was the first Kobe 5 to release during the model’s 2019 Protro run and hit stores just weeks before Bryant’s tragic death, gaining a new significance as collectors, fans, and (sadly) resellers looked to get their hands on anything and everything Kobe-related. It was also given a spinoff “Chaos Alternate” colorway that was awarded to players who completed an in-game challenge in NBA 2K20. —Riley Jones