Following the debut of Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” cleats in November, Vanessa Bryant has announced another twist on the iconic sneaker is coming on Christmas.
Mismatched Nike Kobe 6 “Mismatch” football cleats will see one shoe clad in green and the other in the red from the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Reverse Grinch.” Kobe Bryant first wore the green Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” for his 2010 NBA Christmas Day game, and the shoe was reissued as a Protro in 2020. The “Reverse Grinch” edition, which traded the green scaly upper for red, then released in 2023.
Both iterations of the “Grinch” sneaker have been wildly popular in the NBA, and the craze came to the NFL with the launch of cleated versions in November. Prior to that, custom cleats had been made to look like the iconic sneaker — but Nike had never actually made them until this year.
Bryant’s widow took to Instagram Sunday to announce the forthcoming release and said in the caption, “Only the nastiest get the nicest.”
The Kobe 6 “Mismatch” will be the second Christmas-themed Nike Kobe release of the month, as the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Christmas” released last week for the sneakers’ first return since launching in 2014. Bryant wasn’t able to wear them for the Los Angeles Lakers’ Christmas Day game that year, however, as he was out because of an injury.
The NFL has two games scheduled for Christmas and another on the following day, which will bring ample opportunity for NFL players to wear the green and red cleats.
The Nike Kobe 6 “Mismatch” football cleats will release December 25. Although the precise channels have yet to be announced, the cleats will likely be available through Nike’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing should come in at $230, the same as the “Grinch” cleats from November.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
