Speaking of technology, your last two shoes featured modular setups, which allow for variable performance characteristics. Is that something we’ll see in the next shoe?

Yea, I’ll certainly continue to have that. I think it’s important to have options. When I practice I want to have something that’s a little thicker to try and prevent some of the wear-and-tear, and then when I step onto the court for game time I want something a little thinner and closer to the ground. I didn’t want to have something that was that thin all the time, I wanted to be able to mix-and-match.

Sticking with technology, your last shoe utilized Engineered Mesh – are we going to see any new materials or technologies?

Yup… The next one is going to knock your socks off.

Nike does a great job with themes and telling stories with their colorways. Are there any themes or stories that haven’t been explored yet that might appear in the future?

Yea. The next campaign there is a consistent theme that will drive the entire campaign. It’s very important that each shoe that we’ve done tells a story of where my career is at to that point. I think if you go back to the start of 2004, each product is a snapshot where my career was at that time.

A lot of signature ranges now feature lifestyle versions, whether it’s strictly lifestyle like the Kobe 8 NSW or lifestyle makeups of the performance silhouettes like the EXTs. Is that something we’ll see more of going forward?

We’re doing a lot with NSW, making sure that NSW and performance are on the same track and running parallel to each other. While obviously different aesthetically, the story and inspiration remains the same. So we will see a lot.

As you get closer to the twilight of your career, do you think your signature line can continue once you’re done playing?

I think that when I do decide to call it quits, that’s when it’ll take off. I’ll have more time to focus and do more creative things.

Read more of the interview with Kobe Bryant and Hypebeast HERE…..