Less than one month removed from unveiling a retro line for Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Nike is releasing additional colorways of the Kobe 1 Protro. Friday, April 13, sees a ‘Mamba Day,’ version and the following day a ‘Final Seconds’ shoe will release as part of Nike’s ‘Art of a Champion’ pack.
Also slated for release on Friday is Bryant’s newest signature shoe, Nike Kobe A.D. NXT 360. The champions pack is comprised of 16 shoes, which coincides with the number of playoff wins a team needs to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Each shoe signifies a special moment that a Nike basketball member had during his respective career. Though, the 16th and final shoe will be decided by which team wins the NBA championship.
For Bryant, his Kobe 1 Proto is a white upper with a yellow swoosh and purple laces and trimming. It reminds of the shoe he worn against the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their 2006 playoff matchup.
First, Bryant hit an acrobatic layup with time ticking away in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. Then, he drilled a buzzer-beater at the elbow to give the Lakers a win and 3-1 series lead.
Unfortunately for Bryant and the Lakers, their return to the playoffs ended in infamy as the Suns rattled off three consecutive wins. Nonetheless, the shoes Bryant wore on April 30, 2006, represent another reminder of the exhilarating career and flare for the dramatic the five-time champion had.
The Kobe 1 Protro ‘Final Seconds’ will be available on the SNKRS app and at select Nike retailers on Saturday, April 14.