Release Date Announced: Nike Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16'

News on this release was originally published on April 27, 2022.

Update April 29, 2022: Nike Basketball have announced a release date for the Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16,' and as we surmised it'll be dropping in May. It's slated for a May 1 release date to honour what would have been Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant's 16th birthday, and it'll release on the Nike SNKRS app plus select retailers. LA-area SNKRS users will also have a chance to purchase a pair through a SNKRS Pass with UNDEFEATED. All proceeds will go to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. See below to learn more!

Back in March, Kobe Bryant's estate (led by his wife Vanessa) and Nike announced that they'd be continuing their partnership in 2022 and beyond. Besides an emphasis on youth sports, the new agreement between the estate and Nike will be centred around more styles of Kobe's ultra-popular sneakers – the first of which to release will be the Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16,' a tribute to Kobe's daughter Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant.

It's been over a year since we first laid eyes on the 'Mambacita Sweet 16,' but that hasn't dulled the enthusiasm of Kobe's fans one bit. It boasts a black and white colour scheme inspired by the uniforms of the Mamba Sports Academy and is equipped with all the snakeskin detailing fans of the Kobe 6 have come to expect. The most notable details, however, are present around the heel. Gianna Bryant's #2 jersey is immortalised on the lateral heel, while the shoe's rearmost reaches feature a Mamba Sports Academy logo plus 'Gigi' and 'Kobe' stamped in a gold block font, a poignant tribute to the late, great father and daughter duo.

Branding is provided by a white Swoosh and Kobe's Kill Bill-inspired sheath logo in white on the tongue. From a performance standpoint, the 'Mambacita Sweet 16' features an upgraded Air Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot, a softer, more responsive foam in the heel, a traction pattern with increased surface area and a new last for extra sleekness. No wonder the Kobe 6 is still one of the most popular shoes on the NBA courts!

At the time of writing, a release date for the Nike Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16' has yet to be announced. However, it's likely to touch down in the coming months – Gigi Bryant would've turned 16 on May 1 – so there's a chance it'll release in her honour this May. Keep it locked here for more info as it's made available.