Nike’s revival of the Kobe line is set to continue with the release of the Kobe 4 Protro “Gift of Mamba” during the upcoming holiday season. The Swoosh confirmed the sneaker will drop as part of a massive holiday 2023 basketball collection that also includes the Kobe 6 Protro “Reverse Grinch.”
An all-black colorway comes to the Kobe 4 Protro in honor of the “Black Mamba” moniker Kobe Bryant gave himself after watching Kill Bill and going through the trial for the sexual assault charges filed against him in 2003. The idea was to help separate his personal and professional lives, and “Black Mamba” became the persona for dealing with on-court challenges.
Unlike the Kobe 6, the Kobe 4 didn’t begin with a snakeskin-like treatment. It’s inclusion on the Kobe 4 Protro is all the more special and arrives on the overlays and Swoosh. The base of the sneaker then utilizes black suede — and everything else from the tongue down to the outsole comes in black, too. Only small differences separate the Protro from the original Kobe 4, widely considered one of the best basketball sneakers of all-time, as
To denote the Protro from the original Kobe 4, the sneakers boast upgraded basketball tech through a Zoom Air unit at the heel and as Zoom Air is used for the full length of the midsole instead of just the heel. The heel also has a sleeker shape, and the outsole pattern is wider for better traction.
Nike relaunched its Kobe line in August with the Kobe 8 Protro “Halo,” and months prior another Kobe 4 Protro released in a “Mambacita Gigi” makeup made in honor of both Kobe and his daughter. With two more Kobe sneakers slated for release before the end of the year, Kobe fans will be relishing the arrivals.
Nike has yet to announce a firm release date for the Kobe 4 Protro “Black Mamba,” but the sneaker has been widely reported to launch Dec. 26 for $190. An all-black Destroyer varsity jacket and predominantly black Los Angeles Lakers jersey, both of which feature snakeskin detailing, will also release to form the “Gift of Mamba” collection.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
