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
Before Kobe came along, basketball shoes were largely designed with high and mid-top silhouettes. The conventional wisdom was that ankle injuries could be prevented by cradling in a high, thick support structure, but Kobe, a lifelong soccer fan, wanted room for his ligaments to move. Starting with the Nike Kobe 4, the Mamba pushed Nike designers to reimagine his signature line with a low-profile point of view. Now, as the Nike Kobe 3 continues its Protro revival, Nike has reimagined the shoe with Kobe’s modern low-top tooling.
Nike’s Low-Top Kobe 3 Protro Push Continues
"I pressed him on it," Nike design legend Eric Avar told ESPN about Kobe’s low-top turn in 2008. "I was like, 'A real low? Like a soccer shoe?' And Kobe said, 'Yes. A true, genuine low-top.’ It was pretty remarkable. Here was the greatest basketball player in the world telling me that he didn't need all this stuff around his ankle. And he wanted to prove that to everyone from Nike to fellow NBA players to the consumer."
Suffice to say, Kobe’s plan worked, and these days, low-tops are standard for hoop shoes across brands. On the latest low-top variant of the Kobe 3 Protro, Nike blacks out the silhouette, starting with plush leather on the toebox and heel, more black on the net-shaped side panels, and a metallic grey Swoosh striking across the heel.
Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro Black Release Details
The Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro Black will be released Holiday 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $190. To keep up with all the latest Nike Kobe news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever App.
