adidas and Kobe Bryant have announced the global launch of the KOBETWO footwear and apparel collection. An evolution in the partnership between adidas and L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant, the collection is built on the global success of The KOBE Shoe, which sold more than 500,000 pairs worldwide at an average $125 a pair, the highest in adidas' basketball history. The KOBETWO collection is available in adidas stores and at select retailers.

For The KOBE, adidas worked with the Audi TT design team to create a totally new type of sports shoe. The similarities of Audi Design language and The KOBE are easily identifiable. At a glance, the TT Roadster has three main features: a continuous line, a clean surface body side, and a bullet-nosed front. These elements are reflected in The KOBE. adidas' long-standing grooved shell-toe, from the Superstar Originals line, closely resembles an Audi front-end grill.

adidas is partnered with an impressive list of rising NBA stars, including number one overall NBA draft pick Kwame Brown, NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker, Tim Thomas, and Mike Miller, winner of the 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Early next year adidas will introduce a signature shoe for Tracy McGrady, leveraging additional relationships with top NBA athletes."

"Our partnerships with young athletes like Kobe are the driving force behind our expanding basketball presence," said Erich Stamminger, Member of the Executive Board of adidas-Salomon AG, responsible for Global Marketing. "Since the introduction of The KOBE, basketball sales at adidas have risen almost 40%. We plan to build on this market success through the expanded KOBETWO collection."

A global marketing and advertising campaign to support KOBETWO has already begun, featuring stars from both the music and basketball world. Last summer, Kobe began to promote the launch during his adidas Global Tour, which included spending a week in Asia, visiting Hong Kong and Beijing. During his trip, Kobe became the first person ever to play basketball on the Great Wall of China.

This time, an apparel range with jackets, pants, sweatshirts, T-shirts and shorts, and headwear will accompany the KOBETWO Collection.