A Nike Kobe Bryant sneaker which was once exclusive to friends, family and the reigning World Series champions is scheduled to be released to the public next year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers-themed version of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE sneaker is now set for a retail launch after Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, gifted the shoes to the team in April 2024.
Utilizing Bryant’s sixth signature shoe, the unreleased style colors the sneaker’s scale-covered upper in Dodgers blue with white accents and Bryant’s number “8” on the heel in red. The late legend’s autograph appears in red on the back heel and a matching sheath logo is printed on the insole.
Unique to this iteration of the shoe is baseball-style stitching, also in red, across the top of the tongue. The version of the sneaker gifted to Dodgers players came with white shoelaces, however newly leaked imagery shows the shoe with blue laces, so it’s possible that detail has been changed for the retail release.
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Despite Bryant’s career-long ties to Los Angeles, this is the first official Dodgers-themed Nike Kobe sneaker to be released. Another Kobe 6 sneaker, 2011’s “All-Star East LA” colorway, is also nicknamed “Dodgers” but did not have any formal connection to the franchise.
While Dodgers players received pairs of the Nike Kobe 6 PE in April, the sneaker was first spotted in September 2023 when Bryant’s daughter, Natalia, wore it while throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the team’s Lakers Night event.
Also on the horizon for the Nike Kobe 6 Protro is a new “All-Star 2.0” colorway which replaces some of the design’s scale pattern with star shapes. That style is expected to be released in February for NBA All-Star Weekend.
Now, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Los Angeles Dodgers” PE is set for a release one year after the team received their pairs. It’s slated to be released for Nike’s 2025 “Mamba Day” celebration on April 13, the same day Bryant played his final NBA game in 2016. The style’s SKU is CW2190-400 and it’s expected to retail for $190.
