Image approved
Forefoot midsole tech
Lunarlon foam + forefoot Zoom Air
Heel midsole tech
Lunarlon foam + heel Zoom Air
Outsole tech
Solid rubber with FYW circular traction
Upper tech
Flyknit upper with carbon fiber side panels and high collar
Cushioning feel
responsive and lively
Court feel
good
Bounce
moderate
Stability
good
Traction
elite (clean courts)
Fit
tricky entry, snug, form-fitting
Analysis
Performance profile
Cushioning Feel
82Very GoodCourt Feel
82Very GoodBounce
58SolidStability
74GoodTraction
100EliteFit
84Very GoodContext
Story & provenance
Flyknit Debuts In A Carbon Cage
Nike unveiled the Kobe 9 Elite in early 2014 as the basketball debut of Flyknit, paired with carbon fiber side panels and a high boot-style collar that drew immediate buzz. Underfoot, full Lunarlon foam cradled both forefoot and heel Zoom Air units, and a circular FYW (Free Your Wheels) traction pattern wrapped the outsole. Kobe Bryant wore the Elite version during his comeback from a torn Achilles, and the high-collar build was both a design statement and a structural one. Reviewers from WearTesters, Kicksologists, and Schwollo all praised the cushioning and traction, though the collar was polarizing and entry could be tricky. A Protro version arrived in 2026 with React drop-in updates. The Kobe 9 Elite remains one of the most iconic basketball silhouettes of the decade.