Kobe Bryant would not allow Nike to outright retro his shoes. Instead, he insisted they upgrade them for modern day ball. Introducing the new Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro, the combination of today’s performance standards and Kobe’s classic shoes.


Kobe Bryant is one of the most prolific basketball players of all time. His dominance on-court paired with his win-at-all-costs attitude made him a demon to face in-game. And now, his original Nike shoes are making a comeback, equipped with everything you need to take command of the court today. The new Nike Zoom Kobe 1 “Protro” will look just like the original version, with newly updated guts to make it game-ready for modern day basketball. The Zoom Air bag in the sole has been upgraded for a smoother, more comfortable wear, as well as a reduction in the size of the carbon fiber shank. This reduces stress on the wearer’s foot, and the subtraction of some extra interior foam will make the shoe even lighter. The black and yellow upper will come constructed from a premium leather, with a white Nike Swoosh and Kobe branding throughout. Nike also noted in their announcement that DeMar DeRozan loved the performance feel so much that he wore the shoe in a game a few weeks ago. The sneaker world passed it off as DeMar having a great game (21p-7r-6a) in a very old pair of shoes. This was essentially the entire goal of the design team, a feat they were very proud of.

NIKE ZOOM KOBE 1 PROTRO RELEASE DATE

The upgraded re-issue of Kobe’s first Nike shoe is scheduled for release on February 17th, both direct from Nike and select retailers. The shoes will retail for $175, a steep jump from the original, but definitely worth it for the upgrades that lie within. Check out the images below for a better look, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more updates.

Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro
Release Date: February 17th, 2018
Price: $175