A fan-favorite Kobe Bryant sneaker is set to rerelease for the first time ever next year.

Bryant’s Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low “Beethoven” shoe is set to receive a Protro (performance retro) update in 2025. Originally launched in August 2014, the Flyknit-based white, black and wolf gray sneakers combined a marled gray lateral side mixed with black and white with a fully white medial section.

Long before the “Panda” Dunk nickname came about, the “Beethoven” Kobe 9 Elite Low was a black-and-white sneaker that had fans clamoring for a chance to pick up a pair.

Known for his fervent interests outside of basketball such as martial arts and soccer, Bryant was also a noted fan of the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

“Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata calms me down when I reach my breaking point,” the late NBA legend tweeted in 2013 alongside a photo of himself playing the piano. 

An ESPN profile following Bryant’s 2016 retirement documents how he learned to play the “Moonlight Sonata” by ear in an attempt to earn wife Vanessa’s good graces after an argument. 

“If you just sit down and say, ‘I’m going to learn this thing until I do,’ there’s not really much out there that you can’t figure out eventually,” Bryant said in the ’16 article.

While there’s no explicit Beethoven reference on the Kobe 9 Elite Low, the pair’s white-and-black colorway is said to be inspired by the keys of a piano. During its original release, Nike noted that the pair also paid tribute to the composer’s Ninth Symphony (aka Symphony No. 9).

And although Bryant didn’t wear the “Beethoven” style in an NBA game, he did lace the pair up during a trip to Brazil during the ’14 FIFA World Cup. 

The upcoming Proto version will be the first time the “Beethoven” colorway has been reissued since its ’14 debut. Based on the early look, the ’25 Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low “Beethoven” will match the aesthetics of the original iteration. The pair is currently on track to be released in April at a retail price of $210. This story will be updated with any changes.

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With Halloween just around the corner, retailers will soon begin replacing their hoards of candy with Christmas decor. Likewise for sneaker brands, which will shift from skull and spider-adorned styles to more festive holiday looks. One such shoe is getting an early preview months ahead of its release.

Originally released in December 2014, the Nike Kobe 9 Elite High “Christmas” will be returning in Protro form for its 10th anniversary. The “Bright Crimson/Black/White” sneaker’s theme is relatively straightforward: it’s covered in a red and white Flyknit upper with small accents of green solidifying its Christmastime inspiration. The green hits appear on Kobe Bryant’s signature on the tongue and on the nine stitches at the heel, a reference to an Achilles injury suffered by the late NBA star in 2013.  

Like previous Kobe Protro releases — which Bryant himself conceptualized as “performance retros” — the Nike Kobe 9 Elite High maintains the look of the original ’14 sneaker while updating it with modern technologies. The biggest change to the Kobe 9 Elite High in particular was replacing the original shoe’s drop-in Lunarlon cushioning with React foam, although some enthusiasts believe Nike could have done more to update the performance aspects of the model.

Thus far, the Nike Kobe 9 Elite High has only been available in one colorway: the all-white “Halo” tribute style, which was released on Bryant’s birthday. Looking ahead to 2025, the sneaker’s “What the Kobe” colorway is expected to be released in April, although that pair has not yet been confirmed by Nike.

Cushioning changes aside, the 2024 “Christmas” Kobe 9 Elite High is a near one-to-one match of the original pair from ’14. And if things go according to plan, fans will be able to pick this pair up ahead of the holidays. While the original “Christmas” Kobe 9 Elite High didn’t release until Dec. 26, the ’24 version (SKU FZ7335-600) is slated to arrive weeks early on Dec. 12 for a retail price of $240.

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Kobe Bryant’s first signature sneaker is paying tribute to the first city he called home.

The Adidas Crazy 8 “Philly” is clad in blue, white and red — colors commonly associated with Philadelphia because of the 76ers and Phillies. Blue suede forms the shoes upper and is set off by white leather striping and red branding. The wavy sole unit appears in blue and white, while the tongue tag adds gold trim for just that extra bit of pop.

Bryant was born in Philadelphia and moving to Italy for his father’s own professional basketball career, he returned to the City of Brotherly Love to play high school hoops. Never letting go of his own Philly roots, Bryant was a rabid Eagles fan — and the Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” that released earlier this year took on the same color as the Eagles beanie that he wore to watch a Los Angeles Lakers game with his daughter. Nike also rereleased the Kobe 4 “Philly” with a similar blue, white and red color scheme in April for the first time since it launched in 2009.

Originally known as the KB8, the Crazy 8 released in 1997 as the first of his five Adidas sneakers before he switched over to Nike in 2003. Beside the name change, the shoe’s sole unit has also been altered to move on from the Feet You Wear sole that first defined it, as Adidas’ license for the technology has long since expired. The face logo tied to the tech, however, still belongs to Adidas and is embroidered onto the medial heel and the bottom of the tongue to replace Bryant’s no. 8.

In September, Adidas introduced the first-ever low-top iteration of the Crazy 8. The brand has also continued the legacy of the Kobe line, without the Kobe name, through new riffs on the famous Audi TT-inspired Kobe 1, now called the Crazy 1.

The Adidas Crazy 8 “Philly” will release November 1 through Adidas’ website. Pricing is set at $180.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.

Kobe Bryant fans are likely well acquainted with his signature Adidas and Nike lines, but the late basketball legend’s sneaker legacy goes beyond his own footwear. In addition to wearing various 1990s Adidas models while playing for Philadelphia’s Lower Merion High School, Bryant wore one of the more iconic Nike designs of the era in the Air Max Uptempo, known today as the Air Max Uptempo 95.

As its name suggests, the Nike Air Max Uptempo 95 was released in 1995 and is set to return next year for its 30th anniversary. It was the third installment of Nike’s heavily cushioned Uptempo basketball line, which ran throughout the 1990s and included other classic designs such as the Air More Uptempo, made famous on the court by Scottie Pippen. Prior to the Air More Uptempo, Pippen was one of the NBA top names who wore the Air Max Uptempo 95 along with Kevin Garnett and then-college stars such as Ray Allen and Tim Duncan. 

While not quite as bold in its styling as its Air More Uptempo relative, the Air Max Uptempo 95 was an aggressive design for its time. It was Nike’s first basketball shoe to use full-length visible Air cushioning, expanding on the Air Max2 heel unit of its predecessor. With a puffy, padded upper, the Air Max Uptempo 95 doubled down on Swoosh logos.

“The Air Max Uptempo basketball shoe is for big, fast, crashing-down-from-the-boards like-o-meteorite kind of players. The earth is protected from them by the most Nike-Air cushioning we’ve ever put into one sole,” reads an original ’95 Nike advertisement for the shoe.

The Nike Air Max Uptempo 95 OG will return in ’25 in its original “White/White/Black/Mystic Teal” colorway. It’s expected to be released on March 9 for a retail price of $165. The 2011 iteration of the shoe is pictured below.

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There are a handful of official crossovers between Michael Jordan’s iconic Air Jordan sneakers and Kobe Bryant’s boundary-pushing Nike Kobe line. Bryant had a number of player exclusive Air Jordans during his professional career, and the two legends even clashed on the court while both wearing Jordan’s namesake line. But a Kobe colorway has yet to find its way to a Jordan model — until now.

Images of a new Air Jordan 4 RM in “Black/University Gold” are making the rounds online, and it’s hard not to draw comparisons between the upcoming release and Kobe’s “Bruce Lee” sneakers. Like Kobe’s shoes, this Air Jordan 4 RM blends a black-and-yellow upper with small accents of red throughout.

Famously featured on the Nike Kobe 5 and later revisited on the Kobe 9 EM Low and Kobe 11 Elite Low models, the “Bruce Lee” colorway is inspired by the outfit worn by the martial arts legend in the 1970s films The Game of Death and Enter the Dragon. The black-and-yellow colorways feature blood-like red accents and are among the most popular styles in the Kobe canon. 

Bryant was a noted admirer of the actor’s legacy and practiced Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial art created by Lee. 

“It seems Bruce Lee has nothing to do with basketball,” Bryant told China’s Global Times in 2010. “To me it has everything to do with basketball. There are a lot of similarities,”

While there doesn’t appear to be an explicit connection between this soon-to-be-released Air Jordan 4 RM and Bryant’s “Bruce Lee” shoes, it’s plausible the Kobe line could have inspired the new colorway.

And it’s not the only Air Jordan 4 RM that appears to take inspiration from a previous sneaker design. Also on track for a 2025 release is a “Pine Green” iteration of the model which closely resembles the popular Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 from 2023.

As of now, this “Bruce Lee” Air Jordan 4 RM is expected to be released during spring ’25 for a retail price of $150.

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A Nike Kobe Bryant sneaker referencing how the NBA legend’s career could have panned out will receive the Protro treatment in 2025.

Although Bryant spent the entirety of his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, things almost turned out differently. Ahead of the 1996 NBA draft, the Lakers plotted to acquire the then-high schooler Bryant by using center Vlade Divac as a bargaining chip.

The Lakers were able to persuade the Charlotte Hornets to give up their No. 13 draft pick for Divac, instructing the Hornets to select Bryant. Days later, the plan was nearly thwarted when Divac threatened to retire from the league instead of joining Charlotte. It’s said that if Divac followed through with retirement, the Hornets would have kept Bryant on their roster but ultimately, the Lakers’ strategy prevailed — and they even ended up with enough salary space to acquire legend Shaquille O’Neal that same summer.

The “what if” moment went down in hoops history and Nike turned it into a recurring theme on Bryant’s sneakers. First seen on the Kobe 4 in 2009, the Hornets colors appeared on the Kobe 5 in 2010 and would later be used sporadically on his sneakers. The “White/Varsity Purple/Orion Blue” color scheme is fairly straightforward, but it’s always been a highlight for fans and historians alike.

14 years after the first “Draft Day” Kobe 5, the sneaker will return in upgraded Protro form in 2025. The Kobe 5 was the third Nike Kobe model to receive a Protro update, which was a “performance retro” idea conceptualized by Bryant prior to his untimely passing. Rather than simply rerelease his shoes, the Protro line adds modern technologies to the Nike Kobe sneakers without altering their overall design.

The Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Draft Day” is expected to be released in 2025 at a retail price of $190. Even sooner, a Halloween-timed “X-ray” Nike Kobe 5 Protro will be released on Oct. 17. 

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The latest Nike Kobe “Halo” sneaker will be made available to purchase Tuesday for select Snkrs app users.

The Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro “Halo” is going up early on the Snkrs app through the “Exclusive Access” program. To be eligible to purchase, you’ll have to have two conditions. First, you’ll have to have had linked your NBA ID and Nike accounts prior to August 23. You’ll also have had to answer all three Air Time Trivia questions on the Snkrs app on August 22.

Those who meet the criteria will receive an invite to the “Exclusive Access” drop and will then be able to purchase the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low for as long as supplies last.

The triple-white Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro is releasing following the launch of the regular high-top version of the sneaker in the same colorway. The August drop marked first time Bryant’s ninth signature sneaker, originally released in 2014, has been given the Protro treatment. The two sneakers also continue the “Halo” series that began with the all-white Nike Kobe 8 Protro released in 2023 on Bryant’s birthday.

When the Kobe 9 initially released, it deviated from the norm of low-top basketball sneakers that the Nike Kobe series had itself helped establish. The snug ankle wrap was inspired by boxing shoes because of Bryant’s fascination with the athletes and in the wake of his torn Achilles in 2013. A column of horizontal stitches on the back of the ankle even brings attention to the injury and the arduous process of recovery Byrant took to return to the court. Because Bryant suffered a knee injury before he could debut the Kobe 9 in-game, teammate Nick Young was chosen in his stead.

For the Protro editions, short for “performance retro,” Nike has replaced the model’s Lunarlon foam with newer React cushioning while upgrading the traction and maintaining the FlyKnit upper.

For those who aren’t able to purchase the sneaker on exclusive access, the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro “Halo” will release September 19 through the Snkrs app’s regular draw system, as well as select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $210.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.

The 2024-25 NBA regular season is over a month away from tipping off, but sneaker enthusiasts are already getting a glimpse of what to expect from February’s All-Star Weekend footwear releases. 

In addition to the highly anticipated Air Jordan 5 Retro “Black/Metallic” Reimagined, which is expected to arrive at retail one week ahead of All-Star Weekend on February 8, more throwback shoes are apparently in the works for the annual basketball event.

Joining the February 2025 lineup is this Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0,” a new spin on Kobe Bryant’s sixth signature sneaker which completely redesigns the upper’s signature snakeskin scale pattern.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0” is a drastic departure from the original “All-Star” version of the model. That pair, which was first released in 2011 and reissued in Protro form in 2021, featured a “Challenge Red/Black/White” colorway which blended a crimson red shade with black on the upper’s scales. 

For the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0,” Nike has replaced the scale texture of the first colorway with a new first-of-its-kind star pattern. Various sizes and shapes of stars fill in the upper, which dons a “Light Khaki/Black/Desert/Khaki/Sail/Alabaster/Gum Light Brown” mix of colors.

Worn by Bryant during the ’11 All-Star Game, the late NBA legend took home his fourth All-Star MVP award in the original “All-Star” Nike Kobe 6 shoes after putting up 37 points and 14 rebounds against LeBron James and the rest of the Eastern Conference. The ’11 style returned ten years later in the form of the Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star,” which updated the shoe with modern technology to provide better on-court performance.

In addition to this Kobe 6 Protro, Nike will soon launch several other Bryant-branded shoes including the Kobe 5 Protro “X-ray” for Halloween and an Air Force 1 Low inspired by his season of sneaker free agency.

Set to retail for $190, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “All-Star 2.0” will be released one day before All-Star Weekend on February 13, according to @zsneakerheadz. NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 will run from February 14 to February 16, with the All-Star Game taking place on February 16.

Kobe Bryant’s Fans Create Makeshift Memorial Outside LA Staples Center

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After Vanessa Bryant and her daughters debuted new Kobe Bryant-themed Nike Air Force 1s during the Mamba League Invitational on August 24, more looks are surfacing of another special version of the sneaker tied to the late NBA legend.

Previously teased by Vanessa in February 2024, this Kobe Bryant-branded Nike Air Force 1 Low is confirmed to be released later this year. While not quite as elaborate as the “Queen Mamba” pair worn by Vanessa at the Mamba League Invitational, this upcoming pair is simple in its color blocking but carries a noteworthy backstory. 

The mostly white leather sneaker features the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers, using the team’s gold shade for the majority of accents but adding purple on the border of the Swoosh and the tongue’s branding. Kobe’s autograph also appears in metallic gold on the woven tongue label. At the heel, Kobe’s signature sheath logo is imprinted — a detail that covered the entirety of the upper on the pairs worn by his daughters Bianka and Capri at the August tournament. 

According to Vanessa’s February Instagram post previewing this Air Force 1 Low, the pair is inspired by Kobe’s sneaker free agency during the 2002-03 NBA season. After reportedly paying $8 million to end his deal with Adidas in ’02, the terms of the contract stated Bryant couldn’t sign with a competing brand for one year. Although he was forbidden from inking a deal, brands were still eager to court the Lakers star and created several player exclusive colorways for him.

Over the course of the season, Bryant would wear an Air Force 1 Mid with a similar look to the upcoming Air Force 1 Low release as well as special iterations of the Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 7, Air Jordan 8, Nike Air Flight Huarache and Reebok Question. 

Bryant ultimately signed with Nike and, alongside designer Eric Avar, created one of the most groundbreaking signature lines in basketball sneaker history. The line is credited with popularizing low-top basketball shoes and is often viewed as a reference for many of today’s most highly acclaimed performance pairs. 

Although there is currently no confirmed release date for this Nike Air Force 1 Low “Kobe Bryant” colorway, the pair will be released sometime this holiday season for an expected retail price of $145.

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NBA Stars Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant With Sneakers On-Court

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Not only does Kobe Bryant‘s sneaker legacy date back to 1997, but it encompasses two sneaker giants.

Bryant’s first signature sneaker came from Adidas during his second year in the NBA. He had signed with Adidas prior to entering the NBA Draft in 1996 as a high schooler and was recruited by none other than Sonny Vaccaro, the same man who helped bring Michael Jordan to Nike. Adidas’ six-year, $48 million deal for then-teenager was unprecedented at the time — and it would set the precedent for the 7-year, $87 million contract LeBron James inked with Nike before entering the NBA in 2003.

A year into their six-year relationship, Adidas gave Bryant his signature shoe debut with the KB8 (now known as the Crazy 8). They’d then release four more sneakers together before Bryant paid $8 million to get out his contract in 2002 and eventually shift over to Nike in 2003 in what would become one of the most significant decisions in the history of basketball sneakers.

Below, Footwear News takes you through everything you need to know about Kobe’s first sneaker from Adidas — as well as his Nike debut nine years later.

Kobe Bryant’s First Signature Shoe, the Adidas KB8

After spending his rookie season playing in Adidas shoes including the Top Ten 2000, Top Ten 2010 and EQT Elevation, Bryant was received his signature sneaker debut with the Adidas KB8 in 1997.

Like the aforementioned models, the KB8 featured Feet You Wear technology. Adidas didn’t actually come up with Feet You Wear but instead licensed the midsole tech from inventor Frampton Ellis. When the license expired, Adidas could no longer use Feet You Wear even on the sneakers that originally featured it, which is why you no longer see it for retro releases of the KB8, now known as the Crazy 8.

Feet You Wear mimics the shape of the foot with organic curves on the outsole and midsole in a bid for better stability through lateral movements. The rounded shapes continue well up onto the synthetic leather and mesh upper of the KB8 in a zig-zagging motion overlaid against Adidas’ signature three stripes motif. Within the EVA midsole is a Torsion System plate facilitating the transition from heel to toe.

Original versions of the KB8 hosted Bryant’s embroidered no. 8 at the bottom of the toe, but that mark has now been replaced by Adidas’ Feet You Wear face logo (which it does still own the rights to).

Adidas brought back the KB8 as a retro for the first time 2007 as the Crazy 8, with the name change necessitated by Bryant decamping for Nike. The shoe would return in 2018 and then again in 2023, and it’s remained in Adidas’ lineup since.

Bryant received four more signature sneakers with Adidas before he switched allegiances to Nike. The KB8 2 (now known as the Crazy 98) maintained much of the same design language as its predecessor while adding an even bigger midsole for better stability and support, and the KB8 3 featured a more streamlined look on its upper and a Feet You Wear shape that would help inspired Kanye West’s Adidas Yeezy 500.

The Adidas Kobe line changed naming conventions and moved on from Feet You Wear technology with the launch of the Kobe 1 (now known as the Crazy 1) in 2000. The famously sleek but boxy look was inspired by the Audi TT Roadster and remains one of the most unusual basketball sneakers ever made. Bryant’s last Adidas sneaker, the Kobe 2, retained some of the same DNA but was universally panned.

Kobe Bryant’s First Nike Sneaker

After signing with Nike in 2003, Bryant’s first signature sneaker from the Swoosh wouldn’t come out until 2005. In the intervening years, he’d play in models including the Air Huarache 2K4 and Air Huarache 2K5. There was even a brief period of sneaker free agency after Bryant had bought his way out of his Adidas deal in which he wore a number of Air Jordans, in addition to shoes from Reebok, And1 and Converse.

The Nike Zoom Kobe 1 released in 2006 and was designed by Ken Link. Bryant’s first Nike signature model borrowed from the Air Huarache models he’d played in with Free technology in the sole, as well as the pronounced outrigger shape and high ankle collar. Zoom Air units sit at the forefoot and heel, and a full-length carbon fiber plate is placed underfoot for stability. A cut-out in the snug collar allowed for a greater range of motion, and Bryant specifically asked for his shoe to go without a strap.

Bryant debuted the Zoom Kobe 1 a black and yellow “Maize” colorway during the 2005 Christmas Day matchup pitting the Lakers against the Miami Heat and Kobe against his teammate-turned-rival Shaquille O’Neal.

As the Nike Kobe line grew to include 11 models, retro releases for the Zoom Kobe 1 would occasionally pop up until it was reissued in 2018 as the first “Protro,” short for “performance retro,” with modernized technology.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.

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