Kobe’s China credentials go back decades. Kobe has plenty of fans stateside, but when it comes to the Far East, the Mamba is a rockstar on another level, with countless stories written during his lifetime about how the nation fell in love with the Lakers’ star after aggressive marketing campaigns and countless visits. "I thought I was famous until I got [to China] with Kobe," LeBron James told ESPN in 2008.
The love China showed for Kobe was given right back, too, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to help with earthquake relief in 2009 and releasing China-themed colorways of his signature Nike line throughout the years. The Kobe 9 EM Protro China was originally released in 2014, covered in red and gold tones with ornate graphics to celebrate the country. Now, after 11 years, the colorway is being retroed for the Holidays.
The China colorway features an all-red engineered mesh upper (that’s what the EM in Kobe 9 EM Protro stands for), with a red and gold gradient toecap that extends into the lower half of the side panels. The midsole features a red middle section with gold speckles that leads into a gold Kobe signature on the black lateral heel stabilizer. The side panel Swooshes are done in gold, and the tongue features a Chinese coin design in gold, black, and red embroidery.
The Kobe 9 EM Protro China will be released Holiday 2025 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $190. For all the latest Kobe sneaker news, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
