Duke Basketball Receives Two Exclusive Nike Kobe 8 Protro PEs

The Kobe 8 Protro lands in two school-excluisve colorways in Durham.

Jared Ebanks December 4th, 2023 (updated)

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At the start of September, Vanessa Bryant announced the debut of the Nike Mamba Program, a collection of six NCAA basketball programs that will receive school-exclusive colorways of Kobe Bryant’s ensuing Protro series of footwear. Alongside UConn, LSU, Oregon, USC and Kentucky, the Duke Women’s Basketball team recently showcased a duo of Nike Kobe 8 Protros.

Mirroring the team bank color blocking of LSU’s installment, the iconic low-top trim heralded as one of Bryant’s best signature offerings is cured in two different Duke synonymous hues for a compelling home and away outfit. Embarking upon a simplistic treatment of the Durham school’s palette, the dominant Duke Blue effort stretches the royal tint from the mesh upper to the React-infused midsole while jet-black contrasts clarify the tread and heel clip, covering up the crisp white Kobe sheath logo and the profile swoosh.

The program’s home-centric colorway essentially flips the placement of the blue and white hues from the latter pair as the colorless treatment consumes the upper and midsole in tandem with vibrant blue swooshes, an inner lining and heel logos. Simultaneously appearing in Baton Rouge, it seems that Nike and Vanessa have chosen the Kobe 8 as the first Protro silhouette to be seeded to the six accompanying programs. While we await the program’s expansion to the rest of Bryant’s beloved discography, the Kobe 8 “Duke” PEs can be seen ahead in detailed imagery.

For more on-court toolings, the adidas AE1 debuts in the “With Love” colorway on December 16th.