The fourth annual Mamba Invitational began with a special media preview of the “Chick Hearn Experience” at L.A. Live, which was an immersive gallery that highlighted the Nike Kobe signature line through mixed media installations.
Along with a mural that celebrated key moments from Kobe Bryant’s Lakers career and a digital display of Protro shoe releases, there was a 3D sculpture that featured the outsole designs from signature Kobe shoes.
What quickly stood out from the mixed media installation was a previously-unseen outsole from the Kobe line.
“The Nike and Kobe team tasked me with creating a piece that storytells obsession to detail. I casted outsoles of his iconic shoes to reveal the precision that goes into every Kobe,” artist Troy Murray explained in a statement.
New Kobe shoe coming? 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/aYB7ulbMgP
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 7, 2026
It has since come to light that Nike indeed offered a first look at a forthcoming Kobe release. The shoe is one of the final projects Bryant was involved in before his tragic death.
“Kobe started this project. We’re committed to carrying it forward to the finish. More details soon,” Kobe brand VP/GM Dan Sunwoo said. “We’re working on launching the first unfinished project we started with Kobe. We are revisiting the prototypes we worked on together and will advance a legacy defined by a shared belief in the infinite pursuit of better.”
Nike Kobe NXT: what we know
According to KicksFinder, the new silhouette is for a Kobe NXT, and multiple versions are due to release in the summer months of 2027.
The Nike Kobe NXT Prototype is expected to retail for $410, and there also will be a Nike Kobe NXT 1.0 in multiple colorways and retail for $210.
Rumored Kobe NXT 1.0 colorways scheduled to release are dark smoke grey/off white, black, bright crimson; purple venom/black-white-infite, lilac-bright crimson; and lemon venom/white, black, albaster, bright crimson.
Nike has not yet offered an official look or confirmed details of the two new Kobe NXT models.
History of Nike Kobe NXT shoes
The “NXT” moniker was first applied to a Kobe shoe for models that released after his retirement to represent a new era.
Those versions were a Nike Kobe NXT 360, Kobe A.D. NXT and Kobe AD NXT FF.
When the Kobe AD NXT FF model released in August 2024, it represented arguably the most innovative model from his signature line as it featured Nike FastFit, QuadFit and REACT technology.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
