Over the years, holidays have seen special recognition in Kobe Bryant’s iconic sneaker line-up. We’ve seen memorable Easter-themed editions like the Kobe 9 EM Low “Easter”, distinctive festive releases like the Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch,” and even a Halloween/Day of the Dead edition in the form of the Kobe 11 Elite 4KB “Pale Horse.” Despite Bryant’s untimely passing, the Swoosh brand, together with his wife, Vanessa Bryant, continues their tribute to this legacy. The Nike Kobe 5 Protro X-Ray is a welcomed addition to this lineage, boasting a spooktacular design perfect for Halloween 2024 festivities (but don’t worry, it will still look great any other time of the year).
Details of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro “X-Ray”
Fans recently got a sneak peek at the new Nike Kobe 5 Protro design on Vanessa Bryant’s Instagram story. And we have got to say the colour choice immediately takes us back to the unforgettable “Broken Not Beaten” Nike campaign.
That campaign was all about Kobe’s resilience, represented by an X-ray of Bryant’s championship-ringed hand, annotated with the various injuries he had endured over the years. This highlighted his exceptional determination and competitive nature, which is precisely what made him one of the most celebrated and loved NBA players ever.
Coming back to the Kobe 5 Protro “X-Ray,” the shoe pays a subtle homage to the 2011 campaign by showcasing a similar X-ray design imprinted on the sneaker’s deep royal blue upper. However, this time, it features a skeletal foot instead of a hand. It doesn’t carry the Championship rings—understandably so. However, the inspiration behind the design is still strongly reflected.
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Rounding off the visual spectacle is a glow-in-the-dark sole that further solidifies the design’s eerie resemblance to the Nike Air Force 1 Skeletons. I mean, you can’t look at these and not see the similarities to the much-loved Halloween sneakers.
So, while fans are likely holding out hope for more colourways of the eerie AF1 design, at least this Halloween promises a fresh take on the memorable X-ray theme.
Release Details
You can expect the Halloween-themed sneaker to be released in October 2024, hopefully in time for the spooky festivities. While the exact date is still unknown, you will be able to snatch the Nike Kobe 5 Protro “X-Ray” up on the Nike SNKRS website and app upon their release. Men’s pairs are priced at $190, grade school versions will cost you $120, and the pre-school sizes are coming in at $95 USD.
Of course, you might very well be hoping that alongside this sneaker release, we’d see a re-issue of the X-Ray T-shirt that holds the same imagery as the “Broken Not Beaten” campaign (the duo would actually make the perfect Halloween costume for this year). Sadly, we’ve seen nothing substantiating this so far. But don’t worry; we’ll keep you informed with more updates and sneak peeks of this exciting release.
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In the meantime, stay tuned to us here at Sneaker Fortress for more on the latest sneaker drops and reviews.
What do you think of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro “X-Ray”? Are you a fan of holiday-themed sneaker releases?
Nike Kobe 5 Protro X-Ray |
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| SKU / Style Code: HJ4303-400 |
| Retail Price: $190 |
| Release Date: October 12, 2024 |
| Colours: Deep Royal Blue/Baltic Blue-Glacier Blue |
| Where to Buy: Nike |
