The Kobe 3 Protro is a Basketball Icon Reengineered for Today’s Game

What to know

• The Kobe 3 Protro is designed to meet the needs of the modern game while paying tribute to Kobe Bryant’s legacy and extending his legendary Mamba Mentality to the next generation of athletes.
• The reintroduction marks Nike’s most extensive Kobe Protro effort to date, elevating the original court shoe Kobe wore during his 2007-08 MVP season with technology that pays homage to a classic ahead of its time and makes it ready for the future.
• Updates include a full-length Zoom Strobel and a Cushlon 3.0 midsole, along with an improved traction pattern and a more breathable upper.
• The silhouette will be available August 23 on SNKRS and at select retail locations.

Nike is unveiling the Kobe 3 Protro, an iconic performance silhouette reengineered to meet the needs of today’s game while paying tribute to Kobe Bryant’s legacy and extending his legendary Mamba Mentality to the next generation of athletes.

Designed with modern hoopers in mind, the Kobe 3 Protro offers the total package: comfort, traction, breathability and bounce in a sleek, all-white Halo colorway.

The reintroduction marks Nike’s most extensive Kobe Protro effort to date, elevating the original court shoe Kobe wore during his 2007-08 MVP season with technology that pays homage to a classic ahead of its time and makes it ready for the future.

The Kobe 3 Protro is built to support athletes who move with speed, precision and control, delivering an underfoot sensation that matches the demands of today’s game. A full-length Zoom Strobel replaces a pair of smaller Air Zoom units in the forefoot and heel, pairing with a plush Cushlon 3.0 midsole to enable maximum energy return, premium court feel and lightweight support.

The upper, which maintains the Kobe 3’s classic basketball net inspiration, is now backed with mesh that provides enhanced containment and airflow, locking the foot in place while letting it breathe. Meanwhile, an updated traction pattern helps hoopers make directional cuts, hard stops and explosive takeoffs with confidence reminiscent of the Black Mamba himself.

Further, new diamond shapes on the upper and outsole honor Kobe’s eldest daughter Natalia, whose middle name is Diamanté.

The Kobe 3 Protro was shaped by insights from athletes who experienced playing in the original Kobe 3 and from the new generation of hoopers, who are accustomed to more modern tech in their game footwear. This rigorous testing process, involving both female and male athletes, reminds of the relentless principles of Kobe’s Mamba Mentality, resulting in a shoe built for serious hoopers across a wide range of playing styles.

“It’s the first time we’ve overhauled the outsole, midsole and upper together in a Protro,” says Jeni Takekawa McDonald, Kobe Footwear Product Director. “We listened to wear-test feedback and made real updates. This is a smarter, sharper, better version of an already strong performer.”

The all-white look is the third iteration of the Halo colorway since 2023, with releases timed to Kobe’s birthday, August 23. The footwear launch also coincides with an annual Nike celebration of Kobe’s competitive legacy: the Mamba League Invitational, an elite youth basketball tournament in Los Angeles that’s recognized as the one of most competitive amateur basketball showcases in the country.

This year, Nike selected roughly 70 young athletes who embody the Kobe mentality to train at Nike Academy and compete in the Mamba League Invitational — demonstrating their drive, determination and commitment to winning.

The Kobe 3 Protro Halo will be available August 23 on SNKRS and at select retail locations.