Joe and Jada – “Jeff Hamilton breaks down Kobe's ICONIC jacket photo & drops gems on fashion world”

Release Date: February 14, 2026
Podcast: Joe and Jada (hosted by Fat Joe and Jadakiss)
Guest: Jeff Hamilton
Episode Theme: Fashion icon Jeff Hamilton joins the show to discuss the legendary Kobe Bryant championship jacket photo, his path in the fashion world, the impact of his signature leather jackets, lessons learned through adversity, and what keeps him moving forward in the game.

Episode Overview

This vibrant and lively episode features celebrated designer Jeff Hamilton, known for his legendary NBA championship jackets and deep imprint on hip-hop, sports, and streetwear culture. Joe and Jada dig into Jeff’s creative origins, the behind-the-scenes story of Kobe Bryant's iconic photo in Hamilton’s Lakers jacket, and how Hamilton’s hustle and resilience made him an enduring cultural figure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story Behind Kobe Bryant’s Iconic Championship Jacket Photo

• Origin of the Championship Jacket Tradition
  • Jeff’s championship jacket idea started with Michael Jordan in 1991. Jeff wanted to mark NBA wins with more than T-shirts and hats, creating instant-gratification statement pieces: “On the jacket, you really could tell the whole story…like getting the trophy or the ring without having to wait five months.” (Jeff Hamilton, [04:23])
• Kobe Bryant's Legendary Moment (2001 NBA Finals)
  • Jeff recounts how Kobe, after winning his second championship in Philadelphia—his hometown—was overcome with emotion. Kobe took the trophy and secluded himself: “He took the trophy and went to the shower, locked himself out, and nobody knew where he was…that moment was frozen in my mind forever…and that just became the most iconic picture of fashion, sports, history.” (Jeff Hamilton, [06:34])
  • The meditative, isolated celebration resonated way beyond sports: “It became…a symbol also of winning, but also reflecting and embracing the moment and taking a pause.” (Jeff Hamilton, [07:08])

2. Influence and Legacy of the Iconic “Winning” Photo Pose

• Cultural Ripples
  • Joe and Jada highlight how many stars and athletes have recreated Kobe’s iconic pose—rappers, football players, and even in Verzuz battles.
  • “Patrick Mahomes, Lil Messi, Caitlin Clark, LeBron did it with the 2020 championship...” (Jeff Hamilton, [07:08])
• Iconography of Winning
  • They discuss how the pose symbolizes more than victory—it’s about the personal cost and reflection that comes with achievement.

3. Jeff Hamilton’s Background & Rise in the Fashion Industry

• Immigrant Hustle to Fashion Innovator
  • Jeff reflects on his journey: arriving in America in 1980, $6,000 in hand, intent on an accounting career. Instead, he found fashion: “Didn’t know about patterns, didn’t know about management of a business,” but helped launch Guess Jeans for men and grew the company massively. ([08:01])
• Relentless Work Ethic
  • Joe admires Jeff’s continued grind, traveling globally and working “like a true hustler.” Jeff shares, “Often said the main reason why I am where I am right now is because of the failures…The dark times were the best time in my life.” ([10:27])
  • Jeff credits his ability to keep going to willpower and gratitude: “Never take anything for granted. Being respectful to people being as good as you can…we wake up every morning doing the things that we are…getting paid to do what we love.” ([10:27])
• Humility & Lessons Learned
  • Jeff candidly admits once believing his own hype, losing it all, and learning: “Somebody like God comes in and taps you on the shoulder and say, well, wake up. You know, you're nothing. You're just simply a channel of the energy that I’m giving you.” ([11:55])

4. Influence on and Relationships with Other Designers

• Mentoring & Early Collaborations
  • Jeff describes connections to fashion heavyweights: “Richard [from Chrome Hearts]…when I had Guess jeans…he was a salesman that was selling me leather.” ([15:55])
  • He’s worked with future founders of brands like True Religion, Seven Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, J Brand, and more.
• Staying Ahead of the Curve
  • Jeff shares that before social media, his designs went viral by word of mouth and unique style—“We had no Instagram, we had no advertising…everything just came from word of mouth.” ([17:36])
• Homage to Icons
  • His style is “urban by necessity,” and he names Ralph Lauren as his “goat of goats” as an inspiration. ([17:36])

5. Grind, Motivation, and Staying Fresh

• Hard Work at Any Age
  • Joe marvels at Jeff’s non-stop drive: “I’ve never seen nobody your age work as hard as you.” ([26:22])
  • Jeff jokes: “I act like I'm 30 years old. I just enjoy every second…just be careful.” ([26:32])

6. Fashion Gems: Leather, Crocodile, Branding

• Crocodile Jackets as Trophy Items
  • Jeff discusses working with crocodile leather: “You don’t need the furry, you don’t need the logo, you don’t need anything—but you need the right crocodile.” ([33:05])
  • He shares stories of exclusivity, like a $150,000 crocodile blazer for Arnold Schwarzenegger and working with elite clients.
• Fashion Speak
  • Joe and Jeff go deep on the significance of brand and self-satisfaction: “The key when it comes to branding and fashion, branding and luxury branding, is number one, you have to flex for yourself…if you love it yourself and you put it on yourself and you feel good…98%, 99% of the game is done.” (Jeff Hamilton, [35:01])
• Joe’s Fashion Obsession
  • “Fendi furs, to me, are the best furs…recently…maybe like a month ago, I finally bought my Fendi fur. And it felt so good. I felt I accomplished something in life.” (Joe, [36:34])

7. Looking Ahead: The 2026 World Cup & More

• Global Ambitions
  • Jeff reveals his next big play: “The biggest thing I have, I think is probably the World Cup…so I have a global [license] for the World Cup.” ([25:26])
  • He details plans for pop-ups, exclusive collabs, and how the World Cup’s expansion is changing the game. Final match to be held in New York. ([31:09])

8. Reflections on Legacy, Giving Back, and Culture

• Being Hugged by the Culture
  • Jeff recounts the shift in his mindset: “Younger kids…were not even born when Kobe had that moment...‘What’s up, legend?’...They don’t understand they’re making me happy. They’re basically a validation of all the hard work...” ([13:06])
• Fashion Comes Full Circle
  • Joe marvels at how styles return: “My daughter dresses, my nephews dress, and they try to show me stuff that we wore in ‘92 and be like, ‘Yo, this is the new wave.’” ([38:53])
  • “We love getting fly. We love staying fresh…you, my friend Jeff Hamilton, are addicted to fresh.” (Joe, [38:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the meaning of the Kobe jacket photo:
  “That moment was frozen in my mind forever and…became the most iconic picture of fashion, sports, history.”
  — Jeff Hamilton ([06:34])

• On the grind:
  “I work and address everything with the same way. I don’t care if I’m dealing with a big celebrity or I’m dealing with a busboy. I treat everybody the same and with respect and integrity.”
  — Jeff Hamilton ([10:27])

• On legacy:
  “When people come and ask me for a picture, they think I make them happy. They don’t understand that they’re making me happy…they gave me the seal of approval for all of what we do.”
  — Jeff Hamilton ([13:06])

• On branding and luxury:
  “You have to flex for yourself…if you love it yourself and you put it on yourself and you feel good…98%, 99% of the game is done.”
  — Jeff Hamilton ([35:01])

• On fashion addiction:
  “We love getting fly. We love staying fresh…you, my friend Jeff Hamilton, are addicted to fresh. This ain’t that.”
  — Joe ([38:53])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Kobe’s iconic jacket photo origin: [06:00]–[07:53]
• Cultural impact of the pose: [07:53]–[08:01]
• Jeff's immigrant story, Guess Jeans beginnings: [08:01]–[10:00]
• Lessons from failure & humility: [10:27]–[12:47]
• Rise of other designers and mentoring: [15:27]–[17:36]
• World Cup jackets & global ambitions: [25:24]–[31:46]
• Fashion talk—crocodile stories, luxury branding: [33:05]–[36:33]
• Return of ‘90s fashion, legacy reflections: [36:33]–[38:53]

Conclusion

This episode stands as a rich window into not just celebrity fashion, but the spirit behind the clothes—hustle, vision, the ups and downs, and lasting cultural impact. Through stories of NBA legends and behind-the-scenes industry moments, Jeff Hamilton and the hosts deliver lessons on perseverance, purpose, and the joy of staying “addicted to fresh.”