Nike Kobe 5 Protro

The Kobe 5 Protro is a basketball sneaker designed by Nike for former basketball legend Kobe Bryant. It first debuted towards the tail end of 2019 in Asia, before launching worldwide at the start of 2020 with the revival of the “Chaos” colorway inspired by Bryant’s admiration for Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

Constructionally, it is formed to the exact low-profile shape as the original Zoom Kobe 5 that first released in 2009. In most colorways, it comes built with synthetic uppers held together by Nike’s Flywire technology, snake-like overlays running down its throat, and a plastic heel counter. Branding is typically present atop the side walls which host its Swooshes, the Mamba logo atop the tongues, and Kobe’s hand-written signature at the rear.

Nike Basketball had plans to release multiple colorways of the Kobe 5 Protro throughout the year 2020, but because of the unexpected passing of the Lakers Hall of Famer towards the end of January, their plans were understandably put on hold. The folks over at the Swoosh announced their plans to celebrate the life of Bryant through “Mamba Week” at the end of August 2020, culminating in a half dozen new editions dispersed through that short window.

The entire Nike Kobe line paused Kobe’s deal with Nike lapsed. That hiatus ended when Vanessa Bryant re-upped said contract on behalf of the Mamba’s estate, but the Kobe 5 Protro remained on ice for an extended period nonetheless. It finally returned to shelves with the “X-Ray” colorway inspired by Bryant’s unrelenting dedication to winning, even at the cost of injury.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Kobe 5 Protro will remain busy. “Draft Day” and two “Year of the Mamba” editions in “Eggplant” and “University Red.” While the silhouette supplants typical SNKRS releases with retail drops, the coveted nature of Bryant’s line means raffles and exclusive launches are the norm. Given that, keep an eye out for our “Where To Buy” breakdowns to stay current on which stores are hosting draws.

Scroll below to find out the latest information about its upcoming releases, including release dates and colorways.