Andrew Rizzo Last weekend’s Nike Mamba Invitational delivered the first teaser for what we now know as the Kobe NXT Prototype, the final model Kobe Bryant personally worked on, now set to culminate in a release seven years after his tragic passing. New information shared by Sneaker Files peels back the curtain on what to expect, and while mockups and tech specs are all we have to work from at this stage, it’s already clear that Nike Basketball did right by its longtime category face.
The Kobe NXT Prototype has all the makings of a basketball supershoe, a distinction reflected in both its top-tier tech and $410 retail price. The model is said to feature a cloth upper, ZoomX 3.0 drop-in midsole, Synergia mid-foot shank plate, and carbon fiber plate, a tech cocktail not unlike that of Nike’s premier marathon shoes. The end result is said to be the lightest and most responsive Kobe Bryant shoe ever.
A piece by multidisciplinary artist @typcollection titled “Sole Obsession” provided the first look at the model’s outsole, revealing a V-shaped plate structure that extends from the heel to the forefoot. The upper has yet to be unveiled in an official capacity, but the Sneaker Files mockup embedded above offers an idea of what to expect. The lone confirmed colorway thus far is a “Sail/Black-Phantom” makeup slated for Summer 2027.
The Kobe NXT Prototype is merely part of a soon-to-be-rejuvenated Kobe NXT sneaker line, joined by a more accessible option called the Kobe NXT 1.0, priced at $210. We suspect both models will be worn by Kobe Brand’s stable of NBA and WNBA talent ahead of their respective public launches. Rest assured, we’ll be circling back with any and all updates.
