The Nike Kobe 10 Protro Begins Its Run With A “Mamba Invitational” PE

Nike's gotta drop these.

Andrew Rizzo August 10, 2026

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The headlines were plentiful at the Nike Mamba Invitational in Los Angeles this past weekend, led by the announcement that Kobe Brand will revive the NXT line with multiple models, including a $410 shoe called the Kobe NXT Prototype. The event also served as something of a launchpad for the Nike Kobe 10 Protro, a shoe Nike is touting as its most advanced Protro model yet, set to begin its run with a “Halo” colorway in just a few short weeks. Nike outfitted this year’s showcase participants in a stunning PE colorway, show below in all its glory.

Detailed images show a fiery gradient, complete with a dull mustard-ish yellow on the tongue, laces, and interior, and a brighter orange and red throughout most of the foundation. The Swooshes come in a black fabric with visible stitching, joined by tags reading “2026” on the left shoe and “MM” for “Mamba Mentality” on the right. The left heel panel features Nike LA’s serif font logo, while the insoles carry a direct Mamba Invitational callout.

The Nike Kobe 10 is probably one of the more underrated silhouettes in the Kobe Bryant shoe lineage, a result of a high original MSRP of $180, middling colorways, and the fact that it launched during Kobe’s second-to-last season, well beyond his peak. The Protro, however, stands out for bringing the most advanced upgrades yet seen in the series. The original Lunarlon and Zoom Air setup is replaced by Cushlon 3.0 foam and full-length Zoom Strobel, making for a more responsive ride that competes better with Nike Basketball’s current premier offerings.

The Nike Kobe 10 Protro “Mamba Invitational” is a PE made exclusively for showcase participants, but multiple colorways, including the “Halo,” “5AM Flight,” and “Blackout,” are all expected to drop in the seasons ahead. See detailed images below and hit our Sneaker Release Dates page to browse all upcoming basketball shoes.

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Written by

Andrew Rizzo, Junior Editor

Andrew Rizzo is an editor at Sneaker News based out of New York City. His primary interests include Air Jordan, Nike ACG, Nike Air Max, and New Balance footwear. Prior to joining Sneaker News, Andrew covered youth sports for several outlets and worked at one of the world’s top performance marketing agencies. He hails from Astoria, Queens and is a huge New York sports fan, particularly when it comes to the Knicks and Yankees.