John Kim Before embarking on one of the greatest and most storied careers in NBA history, Kobe Bryant was not only passed on by twelve different teams in his original draft class in 1996, but was actually traded away by the team that selected him. As part of their ongoing partnership with the Nike Kobe family, West Coast-based boutique and sneaker retail imprint UNDEFEATED has collaborated with the Swoosh for an honorable tribute to the late Black Mamba, focusing on perhaps the most ground-breaking draft-day transaction the league will likely ever witness.
UNDEFEATED has concocted two colorways of the Kobe 5 Protro to immortalize the event; the white/teal pair is a nod to the Charlotte Hornets, the team that drafted him thirteenth overall and immediately passed him on to the Los Angeles Lakers. The multi-colored iteration is just that – a mosaic of colors grabbed from the dozen NBA teams that decided to look elsewhere. Hits of gold land on both colorways – a sharp reminder that the Mamba amassed championships and accolades that nobody else on that ’96 class can touch. Both also feature the snakeskin TPU on the collar overlay – a nod to the looming release of the Kobe 6 Protro.
Both colorways of the UNDEFEATED x Nike Kobe 5 Protro will release on August 27th on Nike SNKRS and UNDEFEATED chapter stores. Check the official images below and see the full Kobe Mamba Week line-up.
Updated 08/25/20: The UNDEFEATED x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “What If” Pack raffle has closed.
Updated 08/24/20: Official images of the UNDEFEATED x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “What If” Pack have surfaced.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro “UNDEFEATED”
Release Date: August 27th, 2020
$390
Style Code: DB5551-900 (Pack)
Style Code: CZ6499-900 (Dirty Dozen)
Style Code: DB4796-100 (Unlucky 13)
Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.
Where to Buy
- Undefeated Raffle Closed
