A version of this article originally appeared on the DraftKings Network Medium page.
On the court, he was a killer. Off it, he helped redefine performance sneakers for a new era. Nearly five years after his passing, Kobe Bryant’s legacy still dominates the hardwood and the sneaker game as NBA and WNBA stars, college athletes, and the kids in homeroom are still rocking Kobes — and Nike keeps the line alive with drops that honor his relentless pursuit of greatness.
The latest? A FC Barcelona edition of the Kobe IV Protro on Thursday for a retail price of $190.
Kobe Bryant x FC Barcelona
🚨 OFFICIALLY UNVEILED 🚨
ℹ️ Barca 25-26 Away Kits Available Now
🗓️ Kobe 4 Protro/Air Force 1 Protro available July 31st pic.twitter.com/fauD1xHuZo— Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) July 29, 2025
Sneakerheads know Michael Jordan has the greatest signature sneaker line of all-time, I mean MJ is the OG and opened the door for all who have followed (check out my top 5 Air Jordans of all-time). But who has the second-best signature line of all-time? Kobe has a legit case.
LeBron James has the most signature models behind Jordan, with the 23rd edition of the LeBron line set to hit the hardwood in the 2025–26 NBA season this fall. And while there are certainly some hits, and I’ve broken down some of my favorites, few of his models have truly broken contain and gone beyond performance on the basketball court. Kevin Durant’s line suffers a similar fate: solid on court, rarely seen off. Penny Hardaway is a contender, with few athletes having a better stretch than the Penny 1–4 (including the Foamposite One), but his line lacks longevity. Off the basketball court you can make an argument for Ken Griffey Jr., but he faces a similar problem as Penny. It’s for these reasons I think Kobe is the clear №2.
The Kobe line stands out for its longevity (11 models), on-and-off-court impact, and sustained desirability. Mamba’s signature series may not have as many bangers as the Air Jordan line (no one will have as many hits as Jordan did from 1–14), but the Kobe 4–6 stretch can hold its own with any run in sneaker history. Not only were the Kobe 4, 5, and 6 great designs that have withstood the test of time, they also redefined basketball sneakers. This era of the Kobe line eschewed conventional thinking and ushered in the era of low-cut hoops shoes that owed a nod to soccer/futbol boots (hence why the upcoming Barca 4s are perfect). He wasn’t concerned about his ankles, he was worried about YOURS.
And thanks to Kobe’s unending dedication to perfection, the fact he insisted that Nike not just simply retro his old sneakers but actually update them so they could remain performance beasts has made it so you now see far more Kobes on court than Jordans.
To me, the Kobe line moreso than any other modern basketball sneaker line has been able to master the combination of performance, design and the nostalgia. The Kobe 4 brings you back to a moment in time where Flywire was all the rage as the latest and greatest tech but still doesn’t feel outdated somehow nearly 20 years later (god, I feel old, lol). They’re of a time but also timeless at the same time. Combined with Kobe’s legendary on court play, that’s what elevates the Kobe line above all the others chasing MJ.
Best of luck to all looking to pick up a pair of the Kobe IV Protro x FC Barcelona!
Kobe 4 Protro x FC Barcelona Release Details
| Sneaker | Release Date | Retail Price |
| Nike Kobe IV Protro x FC Barcelona Team Gold and Persian Violet | July 31 | $190 |
To see more of this month’s releases, check out our release date calendar.
