Kobe Bryant's Nike Kobe 6 "POP" Is Returning in Protro Form
Short for “Playoff Pack,” the “POP” originally debuted in the summer of 2011 during the Lakers’ quest for a second three-peat.
Back in 2011, Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers were chasing an elusive three-peat: they’d secured the NBA Championship in 2009 and 2010, and were hoping to do so once again in 2011. Though they fell to Dirk Nowitzki and the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks, Kobe turned in another memorable set of playoff performances, and on his feet for many a Western Conference playoff game was the Kobe 6 “POP.” Short for “Playoff Pack,” the POP featured a simple white, black and yellow color scheme inspired by the Lakers’ home uniforms — and now, almost ten years after the Mamba brought it to the court, Nike Basketball is re-releasing the “POP” in Kobe 6 Protro form.
Even with the signature snakeskin detailing on its synthetic upper, the “POP” is a much calmer style than other Kobes of the era like the Kobe 6 “Grinch” or Kobe 6 “All Star.” Its base color is mostly white, though the aforementioned snakeskin accents do take on a gray shade. Black appears on the midfoot Swoosh, the tongue’s Kill Bill-inspired sheath logo and the plastic heel clip. “Del Sol” adds a bit of flair to the collar lining and the outsole, and the look is rounded off by black midsoles, upgraded with Zoom Air Turbo bags for the modern-day game.
The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “POP” is set to release at Japanese stockists like Gallery 2 on April 14, though its US release date has yet to be confirmed. The MSRP is set at a standard $180 USD.
For more from the world of footwear, check out the latest installment of HYPEBEAST‘s Sole Mates series, in which Joe La Puma discusses his love of the Air Jordan 4.
