All the Right Notes: Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Beethoven’

legendary signature line continues to inspire hoopers from all across the globe, with the Black Mamba still boasting some of the baddest sneakers throughout history. With the new season kicking off today, we’re expecting to see plenty more Kobe Protos hit the hardwood, including this latest ‘Beethoven’ version of the Elite Protro Low. Hot on the heels of the ‘Halo’ iteration that landed in September, there’s no ambiguity as to the inspiration behind this colourway.

The model is rendered in a black and white composition intended to resemble piano keys, referencing the great German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The artist was a source of great inspiration throughout Kobe’s career and signature sneakers. In fact, in 2013, Kobe even tweeted out a specific piece by Beethoven that calms him down: ‘Moonlight Sonata calms me down when I reach my breaking point #relaxandfocus.’ Big Mamba energy, folks.

In terms of the Kobe 9 Protro itself, the model incorporates the iconic Flyknit technology, which was first introduced to the series back in 2014 (the Kobe 9 was the first sneaker to utilise the tech). Down below, the cushioning received some upgrades as part of the Protro line, with Lunarlon foam replaced by Nike’s React tech to offer higher energy return and responsiveness.

Currently, there's no official release date, but we’re expecting the Nike Kobe 9 Protro ‘Beethoven’ to arrive during the early stages of 2025.