Yesterday, Nike and Kobe Bryant officially unveiled the lightest and lowest-profile basketball sneaker to date in the form of the Nike Zoom Kobe V.

After ‘breaking all of the rules’ in regards to a basketball shoe with the infamous Zoom Kobe IV, Nike pushed the envelope again by designing an even better, performance-ready sneaker that defies basketball perception. The Nike Zoom Kobe V weighs in at 10.6 ounces and is inspired by the soccer field. “I watch a lot of soccer and have seen how the best footballers in the world make sharp cuts at top speed in lightweight, low-cut footwear,” Bryant said.

Creative director Eric Avar designed this shoe with two focuses: enhancing support and stability. “For the Kobe V, we started with the science and performance elements and built from there,” Avar said. With that said, the Kobe V possesses specific attributes that are player-friendly to say the least. It features Nike Zoom units in the heel and forefoot, along well as lightweight Phylon-injected midsole that provides an extreme cushioning system.

The Nike Zoom Kobe V will be available for NikeiD on December 26, 2009. The official release will be January 1, 2010 in China and January 16, 2010 throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.