While Nike has released previous versions from the Kobe Bryant signature shoe line by way of a “Prelude Pack” and more recently a “Fade to Black Pack,” they’ve yet to retro his sneakers the way Jordan Brand does for Michael Jordan.
However, that will change on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the release of the Zoom Kobe 1 Protro. It’s the same silhouette and colorway of Bryant’s debut signature shoe with Nike, but with updated technology that mirrors that of today’s footwear.
Although Bryant has at last ventured into the territory of a retro line, he’s taking an approach similar to when he worked with Nike to release a new signature shoe during his playing career that pushed the boundaries.
“It just didn’t fit right with everything I stood for, with the Mamba Brand,” Bryant said in a released statement about a traditional retro line.
“Protro is about evolution and improving on things that were. I wanted to build a business that wasn’t just based on things I have done in the past. It is important that the brand stands for performance and that everything we do is innovative, even if we are releasing shoes from the past they still must be built on performance.”
Per Nike’s release, the Zoom Kobe 1 Protro was a work in progress for more than three years. Among the focuses was reducing the weight of the original Nike Zoom Kobe 1 that released in 2005.
The Zoom Kobe 1 Protro will be available on Nike.com and select Nike retailers.
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