Official Images Of The Nike Kobe 9 EM Low “Draft Day”

Revisiting Bryant's circuitous route to Hollywood.

Matt Varga May 18th, 2026 (updated)

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The hype around Kobe Bryant’s line continues apace, but the Swoosh has done well to manage the hysteria surrounding Protro releases. We won’t try to argue that a Kobe 6 is an “easy cop,” but look elsewhere in the catalog and the picture begins to shift. A run of Air Force 1 colorways has allowed you to bridge the Mamba’s legacy into the world of lifestyle, and the Nike Kobe 9 EM Low has presented performance-forward options without the out-and-out difficulty of picking up a retail W.

Though it’s seen novel narrative fare like the “Mambacita,” the visibility for the silhouette has largely come from its “Team Bank” editions, also functioning as a tacit explanation of the no-frills hoops mission for the “Engineered Mesh” build. That remains the case moving forward, but shots of a “Draft Day” edition flex the Kobe 9 EM Low spreading its wings aesthetically; Hornets-approved gradients take over the upper, bracketed by clean white throughout. Of course, this harkens to the now-infamous decision by Charlotte to draft the high school phenom before immediately trading his rights to the Lakers, the first in a career full of legendary moments.

The Nike Kobe 9 EM Low “Draft Day” drops on June 1st, retailing for $190. Catch an in-hand look below; Instagram user @ak_.review caught a pair on the showfloor a few months before this pair is scheduled.

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WHERE TO BUY

Mens Nike Kobe 9 EM "Draft Day"

SKU: IM6119-500

RETAIL PRICE: $190

RELEASE DATE: Jun 1, 2026

US 06/01/2026 Monday

Retailer	Release type	Status
DICK'S	Standard	Check Site
Nikestore	Standard	Check Site

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.