Kobe fans have plenty to sink their fangs and feet into this year as we celebrate the Lunar ‘Year of the Snake’. Nike have already unveiled a selection of serpentine renditions of the Kobe 5 Protro, including the striking ‘University Red’, elegant ‘Eggplant’, and the crisp white Nike Kobe 6 ‘All-Star’ edition – all of which pay tribute to Kobe Bryant's legacy.
Adding to the heat, the fan-favorite Kobe 5 Protro will be joined by the return of the Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Masterpiece’, the original launch colourway from 2013. A cornerstone of the Kobe catalogue, the ‘Masterpiece’ was a tribute to Kobe’s artful approach to basketball. Its Flyknit upper blended shades of green, red, yellow, and black in a pattern that is reminiscent of a painter’s brushstroke.
The Kobe 9 Elite ushered in a transformative era for basketball footwear in the 2010s. It was the first basketball shoe to feature Nike’s Flyknit technology, offering adaptive, sock-like support. The high-top design, inspired by boxing shoes, was a bold departure from the low-cut styles that dominated Kobe’s catalogue, prioritising both ankle support and freedom of movement. Nike are now bringing back the Kobe 9 ‘Masterpiece’ on February 8 – the same date it originally debuted in 2014 – celebrating its legacy over a decade later.
The Kobe 5 Protro ‘Year of the Snake’ in ‘Eggplant’ is set to debut on January 9, followed by the bold ‘University Red’ edition on January 18, which will release exclusively in China. Rounding out the lineup is the Nike Kobe 6 ‘All-Star’ colourway, arriving on February 13. Unlike the ‘Eggplant’ and ‘University Red’ iterations, which feature a coiled snake design, the ‘All-Star’ edition swaps the serpent motif for a pattern of stars. As always, keep it locked to Sneaker Freaker for updates.
