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Many of us remember watching Kobe Bryant tear his Achilles during a game against the Golden State Warriors back in 2013. With an anguished look on his face, perhaps already knowing the severity of his injury, he limped back to the free throw line to sink two shots before exiting the court. But this wouldn’t be the end for the Black Mamba. Eight months later, he would return to the game he loved, this time equipped with a pair of Kobe IX sneakers on his feet. Now, Nike revives and upgrades the silhouette in hopes that hoopers young and old can be inspired by the resilience of the late, great basketball legend.
Officially getting released to the public in 2014, the Kobe IX Elite Low EM Protro in the above colorway, featuring white all across the uppers and on the sole, while the glossy Swoosh is in Court Purple. A wavy white strip at the base of the upper is bespeckled with purple while a black overlay underneath features an inscription of Kobe’s signature. Purple can also be seen on the Kobe line’s logo at the tongue and on the bars at the heel.
This time around, the low-top shoes got an update with a breathable engineered mesh upper and React foam removable sockliner underfoot for a springy responsiveness. The standard lacing system includes cables at the midfoot to keep the laces locked in place for extra security, ensuring your foot’s not moving around on the court.
If you loved the original Kobe XI for its minimal-rubber outsole, you’ll be glad to see nothing’s changed here. Under the shoe, you’ll see a pressure mapped outline of your foot’s natural contours, delivering durable traction and comfort as you run up and down the floor to channel the spirit of the Black Mamba.
Priced at $190, the Kobe XI Elite Low EM Protro is available now from Nike’s website.
