MIAMI (AP)

The high-flying Kobe Bryant will ply his trade in low-cut shoes.

Bryant unveiled his latest Nike signature shoe yesterday - a low-cut sneaker the league's reigning MVP donned in a game for the first time when his Los Angeles Lakers visited the Miami Heat.

At 11.6 ounces, Nike says it's the lightest basketball shoe it has created, and Bryant is convinced the switch makes the most sense for his game. "It feels great, feels great," Bryant said. "I'm excited about it."

braces on their ankles

Many NBA players use braces on their ankles to prevent sprains, and virtually the entire league plays in mid-cut or high-top shoes. But Bryant is sticking with plain old athletic tape for ankle support, and says that's enough.

"High-tops really don't do much for you," Bryant said. "If you're going to roll your ankle, you're going to roll it. It kind of is what it is. If you come down on somebody's foot, nothing you can do really about that. I wanted to have more mobility in the ankle, more movement at the foot and a lighter weight shoe, and I got it."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson has no qualms about Bryant's decision, which is understandable.

After all, he played in low-cuts. "The only thing about low-cuts, I think some people started saying low-cuts are a detriment to the game because if you get stepped on on the heel, they can come off on the floor," Jackson said. "But I wore low-cuts, taped. A ton of players had low-cuts and taped their ankles. It doesn't really matter."

Some Heat players raised their eyebrows when told of Bryant's switch, with a few saying they wouldn't feel comfortable without the extra protection that a high-top shoe might provide.