Whether it’s special Kobe Bryant-branded Air Force 1s or offerings from his own signature line, there’s plenty on the horizon for fans of the late NBA legend to choose from. And with the end of the year fast approaching, even more upcoming styles are beginning to trickle out.
One of the pairs that will be joining the lineup is a “Total Orange” Protro version of Bryant’s sixth signature shoe, the Nike Kobe 6. Originally released in 2010, the sneaker features an eye-catching scale-covered design which is achieved through dozens of polyurethane “islands” that function as a durable shell around the shoe. Several Nike Kobe 6 Protro looks are slated to be released in the new year including a “Dodgers” colorway and an “All-Star 2.0,” but reports of a “Total Orange” pair hadn’t surfaced until Monday.
According to @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, the upcoming Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Total Orange” sneaker will feature a full colorway of “Total Orange/Metallic Silver/Cosmic Clay.” In-hand images are currently unavailable but a speculative mock-up has been shared based on the color description. Compared to previous Kobe 6 releases, the colorway sounds like it could resemble the “Orange County Sunset” version of the shoe which was released in 2011 ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend.
The Nike Kobe Protro (short for “performance retro”) line was Bryant’s own idea to merge retro footwear with performance technology.
“Like an old-school car, we kind of want to keep the outside the same and upgrade the inside,” Bronson Yim, Kobe footwear product manager at Nike, said. “So we’re doing as much innovation as we can on the inside rather than the outside and making sure that we’re offering that same aesthetic and fit that the consumer once had.”
For the Kobe 6 in particular, the Protro version was introduced with the return of the fan-favorite Christmas “Grinch” colorway in 2020. Key changes include Zoom Turbo in place of its original Zoom Air cushioning and replacing the Phylon foam of the original with Cushlon. Despite this, some enthusiasts view the Kobe 6 Protro as a downgrade due to its lack of heel Zoom cushioning.
The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Total Orange” has a SKU of IH1871-800 and will retail for $190 with an expected launch during fall 2025.
