On Kobe Byrant’s birthday, Nike Basketball just brought back the Nike Kobe 8 Protro as part of the Mamba collection. It’s not hidden that Kobe Bryant took much consideration in his actions outside the court. According to Dee Tolliver, a former Nike senior director of basketball footwear, this was particularly true of his sneakers. Together with Nike, the NBA legend had managed to build a signature line that remains in demand even to this day.
The Protro line of sneakers has a whole story behind its origin. Tolliver once went on to tell the story of how Kobe Bryant did not plan to take the retro path when it came to his sneakers. Instead, Kobe had an idea that would revolutionize his signature collection.
When working with Nike, Tolliver was tasked with a retro plan for apparel, footwear, performance, and sportswear. He sampled two luxury versions of the Nike Kobe 1 without Kobe’s knowledge. The plan was to show the shoes to the former L.A. Lakers star, showcasing the luxurious materials and mamba story. However, things didn’t go as planned.
“Nah. Not retro. Protro” Kobe said after looking at the retros. Tolliver was puzzled by the legend’s reaction. “I look back at my boss like WTF because I don’t know what that word means,” he recalled of that incident. And just like that, it became a task for Nike to make the word Kobe into a real thing.
Kobe Bryant coined the term ‘Protro’
Kobe, the Lakers legend, created a new term for the brand, Protro, which he referred to as performance retro sneakers. This concept was similar to the auto industry’s “restomods,” which aimed to restore classic cars with modern technology. Tolliver recalls the player’s initial explanation, which was that the brand aimed to build products for hoopers using modern technologies like Flywire, Zoom, and foam.
Kobe’s degree of insight into basketball shoes was astonishing. According to Tolliver, Kobe was far and away the most meticulous in working with designer Eric Avar to create goods. Out of all the famous athletes he had the pleasure of working with at Nike, Kobe was the most enthusiastic.
Naturally, calmer heads won out, and Kobe was won over with the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro. This essentially is the same sneaker that Kobe frightened defenders in more than ten years ago but with modernized technology. On February 17, which is more commonly recognized in the sports world as Michael Jordan’s birthday, the sneakers went on sale at Nike.com and a few select shops.
The Nike Kobe 1 Protro, which made its debut in 2018, was the result of all that Kobe had envisioned. It maintained all of the original’s aesthetic features while including technical improvements like a full-length Zoom Air unit and being a lighter shoe overall. Ultimately, Protros of the Nike Kobe 4, 5, 6, and the all-new Kobe 8 Protro “Halo” were released for shoe enthusiasts worldwide.
The Nike Kobe 1 Protro “81 Point Game” releases January 22. @DeMar_DeRozan to play in them tonight against Memphis. pic.twitter.com/qbxZGa1xah
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) January 10, 2019
The Protro line has seen some astonishing lines of sneakers, including some that were a tribute to Kobe’s legendary career. One of them would be the Nike Kobe 1 Protro ’81 Point Game.’ This was a nod to his iconic 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Interestingly, the shoes that Kobe wore that night were the Nike Kobe 1s, the first of many signature shoes the player released.
Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Mambacita GiGi”
Photo: @justfeats pic.twitter.com/FdmxoL3l9T
— Ovrnundr (@Ovrnundr) May 1, 2023
Even after Kobe’s death, Nike has worked with his wife Vanessa Bryant to continue the production and sale of the line. Protro is still very much in demand today, and fans are still breaking the bank to get their hands on the sneakers. Moreover, Nike even paid homage to Gianna Bryant, with the Nike Kobe 4 Protro ‘Mambacita Gigi,’ which was released in May 2023.
Nike and Vanessa will certainly aim to keep Kobe’s memory and legacy alive with his signature line. He aimed to inspire fans to become the best version of themselves, which is certainly what Vanessa has been focusing on in recent times as well. She has even given away sneakers to several college and high school basketball teams, bringing the game forward by helping the younger generation.