Year of the Mamba: Nike celebrates Kobe Bryant's legacy with iconic collection

Rob This entry was published by Rob. Social Media Specialist and Content Creator. 2025-01-08

TLDR: Nike's Year of the Mamba collection launches four iconic Kobe Bryant sneakers and an apparel capsule collection. The releases start on 9 January 2025 with the Kobe 5 Protro ‘Year of the Mamba’ and culminate on 13 February 2025 with the Kobe 6 Protro ‘All-Star 2.0’. The collection combines Kobe's Mamba mentality with Lunar New Year traditions.

Nike presents the Year of the Mamba, a collection that celebrates Kobe Bryant's legacy and combines his iconic Mamba mentality with the cultural symbols of the Lunar New Year 2025.

The collection includes four sneakers and an apparel capsule. Highlights include:

Kobe 5 Protro ‘Year of the Mamba’ in Eggplant and University Red. Both models feature golden snake details and an insole with mandarin lettering, inspired by the year of the snake. The University Red version is available exclusively in China.
Kobe 9 Elite High Protro ‘Masterpiece’: A modern classic with Flyknit upper, React foam midsole and new traction pattern.
Kobe 6 Protro ‘All-Star 2.0’: A reinterpretation of the snakeskin look with star-shaped details, inspired by Kobe's All-Star Game appearances.

The apparel capsule includes jackets, crewnecks and trousers, all adorned with a gold snakeskin pattern that honours Kobe's five NBA titles.

When is the release of the Year of the Mamba collection?

The sneakers and apparel pieces of the collection will be released on these dates:

9 January 2025: Kobe 5 Protro ‘Year of the Mamba’ (Eggplant)
18 January 2025: Kobe 5 Protro ‘University Red’ (China-exclusive)
8 February 2025: Kobe 9 Elite High Protro ‘Masterpiece’
13 February 2025: Kobe 6 Protro ‘All-Star 2.0’

Where can I buy the Year of the Mamba collection?

The Year of the Mamba collection is available worldwide on Nike.com, the SNKRS app and at selected Nike retailers. The Kobe 5 Protro ‘University Red’ is only sold in China. Stay tuned to Grailify to make sure you don't miss any updates!