Nike Kobe 11 Protro ‘Mamba Day’

The shoes worn during Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game on April 13, 2016 returned in Protro form for the first time on April 13, 2026, exactly ten years after the original Mamba Day. Originally made available for customization by fans in the hours before tip-off of Kobe’s last game, the shoe now released with a static design that honored both the performance and the personalized origin story.

Key stats from Kobe’s career (points, assists, championships) appeared across the shoe in a way that made it simultaneously a scorecard and a tribute. The Protro treatment updated the construction while keeping the storytelling intact.

The Nike Kobe 11 Protro Mamba Day retailed at $220 and released April 13, 2026 on the 10th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game, through Nike SNKRS.

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The Sneakers Team

The Sneakers Team is the editorial desk behind becausesneakers, founded and edited by Nick Engvall. Nick has spent more than two decades in the sneaker industry. He built the original Eastbay Blog, led the first dedicated sneaker team at Complex, ran the first UGC and seeding programs at Finish Line, was employee number nine at StockX, and served as Senior Director at Stadium Goods. He hosts the Sneaker History podcast, and his first book, Small Luxuries: Sneakers, arrives in October 2026 from Motorbooks. Release details on this site are checked against the brand's own product information before publication, and anything we cannot confirm is labelled rather than stated.

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