Category: Kobe Bryant

PE Corner: Josh Giddey wore this Kobe IV Protro PE on Derrick Rose jersey retirement night

Brandon King

On Derrick Rose jersey retirement night, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey wore the “Drew Aid” Kobe IV Protro PE. Giddey recorded 15 points on 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-3 from downtown, adding 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Bull’s 139-126 win over the Knickerbockers of New York.  A DeMar DeRozan PE that was made for the former Bulls, now Sacramento Kings star, to wear in the Drew League, they sport a pink upper adorned on the sides with black Swooshes. Powder blue shows up on the inner, Kobe…

Read More

”Year of the Mamba” Kobe V Protro coming January 9

Brandon King

The other Kobe V Protro in the Year of the Mamba collection sports a red fused upper with gold at the toe. Like the eggplant, the lateral side Swoosh is entangled with a gold Mamba. Perched atop the tongue is a gold Kobe logo with a red Kobe signature on the heel counter.  Underneath resides a red midsole and a black and red rubber outsole.  The sneakers will be housed in special packaging, including a red dust bag and red box. They will release, along with the “Eggplant” iteration on…

Read More

Nike unveils “Year of the Mamba” Collection 

Brandon King

title image via Mamba Kix Unlike Black History Month, Nike never passes on the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Mamba and it’s fitting that Nike would release commemorative footwear honoring the late, great Kobe Bryant.  The collection onsists of four sneakers, the “Eggplant” and “Year of the Mamba” Kobe V Protro, the “Masterpiece” Kobe IX Protro, and the “All-Star 2.0” Kobe VI Protro, as well as coordinating apparel  Bronson Yim, product line manager for Kobe footwear had this to say about the collection:  “This collection is an…

Read More

“Moonwalker” Nike Kobe IX Protro coming in 2025

Brandon King

The “Moonwalker” Nike Kobe IX Protro is one of a plethora of Kobes that are in Nike’s 2025 release plans.  At this juncture, there are no available images of the 2025 iteration, but what is known is they will utilize a hyper grape, cave purple, and white color palette. What we should see is a Kobe IX Low that sports a purple knit upper with silver Swooshee adorning the sides. A white Kobe logo is perched atop the tongues, while on the rear heel appears nine silver dashes.  Underneath the…

Read More

”Total Orange” Nike Kobe VI Protro coming Fall 2025

Brandon King

title image via cop_o_clock The Kobe VI will not be left sitting on the sidelines in 2025, as evident by this upcoming colorway. The only visual variety on this other monochromatic orange upper is seen via the silver that appears on Swooshes that adorn the sides, as well at the Kobe logo perched atop the tongue. Underneath this largely single-hued upper resides an orange midsole and matching rubber outsole. As it currently stands , thhe “total orange” Nike Kobe VI Proro is slated to debut in the fall of 2025…

Read More

Would you buy these Kobe VII if they were to release?

Brandon King

This unreleased Kobe VII sports a white, Flywire-equipped upper adorned on the sides with navy Swooshes. The same navy also takes care of the Kobe logo perched atop the white tongue.  Red shows up on the external heel counter, which also displays a Kobe signature, as well as at the inner. On the rear of the tongue, a USA Basketball logo can be seen.  Underneath the aforementioned upper resides a red-accented, as opposed to the navy of the released pair, white midsole, and a white rubber outsole.  QqqqqAs these weren’t…

Read More

An initial look at the Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low

Brandon King

Teased by Vanessa Bryant earlier this year, this Air Force 1Low is reportedly inspired by Kobe Bryant’s sneaker free agency during the 2002-03 season. This very interesting time in sneaker history saw Bryant lace up footwear from, Nike, Jordan Brand, And 1 and Reebok, as he laid waste to would-be defenders, averaging 30.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest.  An initial image of the complete upper has emerged and what we can see is an Air Force 1 Low that sports a white leather upper adorned on the…

Read More

PE Corner: Caitlin Clark records career high in new Kobe VI Protro PE’s

Brandon King

In the Indiana Fever’s highly anticipated game with the Chicago Sky, Caitlin Clark broke out a new Kobe VI Protro PE. In a performance that would have brought a smile to their namesake, dropped a career-high 31 points and dropped 12 dimes in the Fever’s 100-81 thumping of Chicago Sky Friday night.  Clark’s Kobe VI Protro sports light blue scales situated atop a similarly colored and white upper. Winter wizard Swooshes adorn the sides. White wraps the heel, and over top sits a university blue external heel counter.  Underneath resides…

Read More

PE Corner: The “Phoenix Mercury” Kobe VIII Protro

Brandon King

This duo of Kobe VIII player exclusives was made with the Phoenix Mercury in mind. One pair features an orange engineered mesh upper with a purple Swoosh on the lateral side, with similarly presented, but smaller branding on the medial ankle. Purple also shows up on the Kobe logo on the tongue as well as the Kobe signature on the external heel counter.  An orange midsole and white rubber outsole rounds out the aesthetic.  The second pair sports a white mesh upper adorned on the sides with orange Swooshes of…

Read More

Take a look at ”EYBL” Nike Kobe VIII Protro

Brandon King

These Kobe VIII Protros were part of the fleet of sneakers made for young basketballers of the Elite Youth Basketball League.  They sport a pastel pink knit upper that gives way to white closer to the midsole and heel counter. On the tongue, an EYBL logo can be seen, while on the medial heel, reads “EYBL FAM REUNION.” Black shows up on the large Swoosh on the lateral side, smaller such branding on the medial side, and the Kobe iconography present at the rear heel and external heel counter, respectively.…

Read More