Nike is going all-in on is celebration of the 30th anniversary of Kobe Bryant being drafted into the NBA. A blind box release for the Kobe 4 Protro Draft Day pack has 14 different colorways that could be in each box, but those who want to know exactly what they’re getting could look to a special-edition Dunk Low dropping simultaneously.
The Kobe Bryant x Nike Dunk Low Protro Charlotte to L.A. commemorates the trade that brought Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers through a wear-away upper. Out of the box, the shoe comes with a white leather base and snakeskin-textured overlays in both purple and teal, the colors of the Charlotte Hornets. The purple paneling will remain as is, but the blue paneling can be worn away to reveal a gold layer underneath switching the shoe’s allegiance to the team Bryant played for in all 20 seasons of his NBA career.
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Bryant’s Nike logo appears on both the tongue tag and insole, while the mustache hosts “Kobe” text embroidery with half the letters in Hornets colors and the other repping the Lakers.
Going a step further, the Dunk Low has also gotten a remastering like Bryant’s signature shoes and Air Force 1 Lows with more modern technology. A ReactX foam drop-in midsole is now used, which will deliver a much more comfortable experience than your standard Dunk Low.
Heading into the 1996 Draft, Charlotte and Los Angeles came to an agreement that the former team would trade the latter the number 13 pick in exchange for Vlade Divac. The Lakers instructed the Hornets to select Bryant, but the trade was delayed for a time as Divac threatened to retire.
The Kobe 4 collection releasing on the 30th anniversary of the draft features 13 wear-away colorways cheekily invoking the 13 teams that passed on Bryant’s services. The final option of the mix then arrives in Lakers purple and gold.
The Kobe Bryant x Nike Dunk Low Protro Charlotte to L.A. will release June 26 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $180.
