Kobe Bryant (Image Credits: Imagn)

Over five years after his untimely passing, Kobe Bryant’s influence within the league has remained strong.

Players continue to honor him or cite the effect he’s had on their basketball journey.

LeBron James, who has been enshrined in the Hall of Fame for being a member of the Redeem Team, explained in length how Bryant became the missing link needed to win the gold in the 2008 Olympics.

One notable aspect of Kobe isn’t just his game but also his sneaker line with Nike. Although Kobe Bryant is no longer with us, his shoes are as popular as ever.

During the 2024-2025 season, a total of 136 NBA players wore Kobe’s.

That’s an insane number, considering that the next closest player in the list was Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, who came in second with 30.

Kobe Bryant’s shoes were the most worn by players in the NBA last season, per @hoopshype

Kobe Bryant — 136
Kevin Durant — 30
Devin Booker — 28
Sabrina Ionescu — 27
LeBron James — 17
James Harden — 15
Kyrie Irving — 13
Giannis Antetokounmpo — 11
Donovan Mitchell — 10
Kyrie… pic.twitter.com/0EDxtPfms6

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 8, 2025

Other notable names on the list were Devin Booker and LeBron James. Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty shockingly ended ahead of James in sneaker representation among NBA players.

It’s important to point out that Nike Inc. represents the top five players on the list.

Does Kobe Bryant Belong In The GOAT Conversation?

Kobe Bryant (Image Credits: Imagn)

In recent years, several current or former NBA players have advocated for Bryant’s inclusion in the greatest of all-time conversation.

Shaquille O’Neal, a former teammate of Kobe Bryant, is constantly frustrated when people don’t include Kobe in GOAT discussions.

Inside The NBA’s Charles Barkley stated that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were comparable in their skill sets on the court.

Should Kobe Bryant be included as one of the top three players of all time?

When we look at his personal accolades during his 20-year career, he certainly garnered more than enough hardware.

He has won five NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, one league MVP, and scored 33,643 points from 1996 to 2016, all with the Los Angeles Lakers