Nike celebrates Kobe with new footwear for Mamba Week
Kobe Bryant may not be with us anymore, but his legacy lives on with the players around the globe. In the NBA alone, we’ve seen his footwear on the feet of the players. Needless to say, his impact on the game resonates with everyone and encapsulated with his sneakers. So much so that Kobe pushed Nike Basketball to explore the competitive advantages using a low-profile yet highly-responsive design. That’s why we’re seeing Performance Retros rather than regular Retros for his signature line.
Commemorating his life and his legacy, Nike Basketball is set to release a seasonal collection featuring the Kobe V Protro as well as a limited edition jersey. Here’s a rundown of what’s to come for Mamba Week:
Kobe V Protro Big Stage
Nike celebrates the 10th anniversary of Kobe’s fifth championship. The updated Big Stage features Bryant’s notable achievements during the 2009-2010 season via a tattoo-style print on the shoe’s upper.
Kobe V Protro 5x Champ
Kobe’s Mamba Mentality made him a 5-time NBA Champion and one of the greatest athletes of his generation. The ‘5x Champ’ colorway takes inspiration from Bryant’s championship-themed jackets gifted to him during his 2nd and 3rd chips. The upper is done in purple, black and gold patent leather, with a 5-star graphic found on the shoe’s insole. AD’s been rocking these since early this year. You can too this August.
Kobe V Protro Girls EYBL
Kobe’s a proud #GirlDad and what better way to show that than by creating a specific colorway for the girls playing in the EYBL. Inspired by the mythological character Medusa, the shoe comes in a green upper with gold accents and scaled detailing.
Kobe V Protro x Undefeated ‘What If’ Pack
During the 1996 NBA Draft, 12 teams passed on Kobe Bean Bryant. 12 TEAMS. For the first pair of the ‘What If’ Pack, Undefeated combined the colors of the 12 teams that passed on Bryant, while the second pair depicts the team that LA made a trade with to get Kobe. Both pairs are laced with gold accents to reference the championships earned throughout his 20-year career.
Nike Los Angeles City Edition ‘Black Mamba’
Back in 2017, Nike and Kobe Bryant co-created the Black Mamba-inspired City Edition jersey for the Lakers. The jersey makes a comeback for Mamba Week, done with a faux snakeskin pattern, 16 stars on the side panels and a scoop neck found during the Showtime-era uniforms. This time, Bryant’s both numbers are found on the jersey, 8 in front and 24 at the back, quite fitting as it also represents Mamba Day.
The Nike Kobe V Protros and Jersey are all slated to drop during Mamba Week, August 24-29. We’ve got confirmation that two of the five pairs are slated to drop locally, and expect the set to also drop on SNKRS. Keep it locked in for more information in the coming days.