The Nike Kobe 9 Elite is one of the best new basketball designs in a while, with surprising level of height to it. After spotlighting low-cut court designs with the Zoom Kobe IV in 2008 (he certainly wasn't the first high-profile to ditch the hi-tops) & following that formula of sleek looks, under the ankle height & outrigger support for several segments to the point where things started to get samey, Kobe got injured, got stitched & decided he wanted something high. Like, really high. But