Nike To Retro Kobe Bryant Signature Line, Beginning With Kobe 1 Protro

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Nike

While Nike has released previous versions from the Kobe Bryant signature shoe line by way of a “Prelude Pack” and more recently a “Fade to Black Pack,” they’ve yet to retro his sneakers the way Jordan Brand does for Michael Jordan.

However, that will change on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the release of the Zoom Kobe 1 Protro. It’s the same silhouette and colorway of Bryant’s debut signature shoe with Nike, but with updated technology that mirrors that of today’s footwear.

Although Bryant has at last ventured into the territory of a retro line, he’s taking an approach similar to when he worked with Nike to release a new signature shoe during his playing career that pushed the boundaries.

“It just didn’t fit right with everything I stood for, with the Mamba Brand,” Bryant said in a released statement about a traditional retro line.

“Protro is about evolution and improving on things that were. I wanted to build a business that wasn’t just based on things I have done in the past. It is important that the brand stands for performance and that everything we do is innovative, even if we are releasing shoes from the past they still must be built on performance.”

Per Nike’s release, the Zoom Kobe 1 Protro was a work in progress for more than three years. Among the focuses was reducing the weight of the original Nike Zoom Kobe 1 that released in 2005.

The Zoom Kobe 1 Protro will be available on Nike.com and select Nike retailers.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com