Nike is set to celebrate Mamba Day in style, as the Kobe 8 Protro “What the Kobe” is set to drop on Sunday, April 13, for a retail price of $180.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The” 🤙
🗓️ Release Date: April 13th, 2025
ℹ️ Adult + GS Sizes pic.twitter.com/I5pTQRTtQ5— Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) April 10, 2025
Having originally dropped in December 2013, the “What The Kobe” features elements of several colorways from the Kobe 8 all put together in an eye-catching package. Nike calls this colorway a “vibrant work of art and history” and says the “reimagined design captures the original’s eclectic spirit with a mismatched aesthetic.” The right side features a majority orange upper, with a glow-in-the-dark volt Swoosh and green accents and a green translucent outsole matching its midsole, which also features orange speckles. The left side features a mostly blue upper with a reddish-orange Swoosh and accents, plus a clear translucent outsole as well as a purple-to-blue gradient midsole. The left side also features oversized reflective silver Nike branding from the Kobe 8 Mambacurial and has no Kobe logo branding on the back, which the right side does. Needless to say, if you’re wearing these, you are going to turn heads, whether it be on the court or the street.
The Kobe 8 Protro “What the Kobe” comes with three sets of laces, including a mismatched pair designed to mimic the colors of the left and right sides of the shoe. They will also come in a scaled Kobe-branded box, as seen in this great review from Weartesters. Nike didn’t miss a beat with all the Kobe branding and easter eggs on this one. Speaking of not missing a beat, Nike will also be releasing several matching items to go along with the sneakers, including a basketball, a hoodie, a reversible jersey, T-shirt and shorts.
Of course, the Kobe 8 continued the line’s low-cut design language and was the lightest Kobe sneaker released to that point. Like all Kobe protros, subtle changes have been made to keep the aesthetic of the shoe the same while bringing the performance aspect up to modern standards, which was a request that Kobe made himself prior to his death when Nike approached him about bringing back some of his legendary sneakers. Previously, Nike noted that it has replaced the Lunarlon midsole, which was en vogue in the shoe’s OG era, with Nike React foam. Nike says this will lead to increased comfort and responsiveness while aiding in creating a durable design. The brand also says it updated the herringbone traction pattern for a stronger grip.
Kobe sneakers remain highly sought after since his untimely passing in 2020, with this guaranteed to be an instant sellout. That said, like the larger resale market in general, the price for these on the secondary market isn’t quite as insane as it was a few years ago. The “What the Kobe” Protro 8s are currently on StockX and have an average price of $382 on 317 sales. All this to say, while they might be slightly more available than during the pandemic era heights of the sneaker bubble, these “What the Kobe” Protros certainly won’t be easy to get. So, best of luck to all looking to pick up a pair!
Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What the Kobe” Release Details
| Sneaker | Release Date | Retail Price |
| Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe” | April 13 | $180 |
To see more of this month’s releases, check out our release date calendar.
