Jordan Release Calendar


Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
The Mamba Mentality is all about waking up early, getting to the gym first, and working on your game until crunch time runs on autopilot. In 2015, when Kobe dropped his 10th Nike signature shoe, the Black Mamba was coming off a devastating Achilles injury, and the debut colorway of the Nike Kobe 10 paid tribute to his relentless recovery effort, including a 40-foot leap off a diving board after he had recovered from surgery.
The Nike Kobe 10 5AM Flight was the first colorway of the Kobe 10 that dropped in 2015. The colorway features a monochromatic blue lagoon finish on the one-piece reinforced upper, snake scale print on the tongue, and black accents on the side panel Swoosh. A bit more color is added with red on Kobe’s signature at the top of the tongue and red stripes on the left heel of the shoe to represent the stitches needed to repair Kobe’s left ankle.
At the time, the Kobe 10 was the peak of Nike Basketball’s performance tech, with an icy outsole housing a Zoom unit in the heel for added comfort and stability. These days, while Kobe retros are the most frequently worn shoes in pro basketball, the 10 isn’t often brought out of the closet. It’s possible that this year’s Protro push could change that, though. We’re still waiting for confirmation on what the Protro enhancements will be, but expect the latest tech from Nike Basketball.
The Nike Kobe 10 Protro 5AM Flight will be released Holiday 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $200. For all the latest Nike Kobe news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.