Update: Revealed at the start of the year, the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “Mambacita” is slated to be one of many releases featuring the Kobe 8 Protro in 2024. In anticipation of its release on May 1 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a starting price of $190 USD, the team at YankeeKicks has established an on-foot breakdown of the colorway. Enjoy this preview of the sneaker as we await official release confirmation and imagery from the Swoosh.
Original Story: Since Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant’s estate reached an agreement with Nike in 2022 to bring back the Nike Kobe line, homage has been paid to the late Gigi Bryant each year with special “Mambacita” colorways. So far, the Kobe 6 Protro and Kobe 4 Protro have taken on the theme, offering black and white colorways with references to the late second daughter of the Bryant family.
Now, it has been revealed that the Kobe 8 Protro is the next silhouette to carry the “Mambacita” motif. In this initial preview of the pair, it has been revealed that black and white again serve as the main colors involved while the golden accents of the pair are delivered via the Swooshes on each side of the shoe. Throughout the upper, a butterfly pattern is included as a nod to Gigi while the heel also references her via its “GIGI” text at the left shoe and number two hit on the right shoe.
The Nike Basketball team has yet to reveal its plan to release the Kobe 8 Protro in this “Mambacita” colorway at the time of writing. Stay tuned for updates as it’s likely to land on shelves later this year via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a starting price of $190 USD alongside additional Kobe 8 Protro releases.
