Andrew Rizzo Nike’s massive catalog of Kobe releases implies an equally huge amount of unseen samples that never ended up dropping publicly. In 2019, the Swoosh created a “Black/Yellow Strike/Gorge Green” Kobe 4 Protro that has the sneaker world wondering, shown here in detail for the first time ever.
This combination of green and yellow screams “Oregon,” but it’s not exactly clear whether Nike intended it that way. The design recalls the “Rice” series of Kobe Bryant shoes, which consists of green and yellow colorways inspired by Kobe’s Manhattan prep school. Nike came out with “Rice Home” and “Rice Away” Kobe 4s in 2009, so could this Protro have been intended as a 10th anniversary revival? We might never know, but there’s no denying the pair’s clean execution. Patent leather lives on the toe box and collar, while “Gorge Green” mesh hosts a “Yellow Strike” Swoosh on the side panel. Green paint splatter appears on a mostly white midsole, while the primary colors alternate on the outsole.
These won’t see a public release, but @yyt_snkrs is selling the size 10 pictured below. Hit him up on IG if you’re interested.
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- Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Oregon” yyt_snkrs/IG
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- Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Oregon” yyt_snkrs/IG
