Kobe Bryant's Famed Nike Kobe 6 "Prelude" Will Reportedly Return in Protro Form

Since Kobe Bryant’s estate and Nike rekindled their partnership back in March, fans of the Mamba have been anxiously awaiting more releases of his beloved signature sneakers. The “Mambacita Sweet 16” touched down in April and DeMar DeRozan inked a four-year deal to remain the face of the Kobe line in August, but things have remained somewhat quiet since then — at least until now. Rumors and reports of the Kobe 6 “Prelude” coming back have begun swirling, and its comeback would be a fitting one as it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022.

The Kobe 6 “Prelude” was part of an eight-shoe “Prelude” collection that led up to the global release of the Kobe 9. Though no silhouette in the pack was lacking for panache, the Kobe 6 in question is one of the most vibrant of the bunch with an all-over mural-style design inspired by the street art found in Venice, California. It includes everything from sharks to octopus, planets and large waves, all dressed in an array of bright colors and split by bold volt branded hits. Though its look is nearly identical to the 2012 release, it features updated Protro construction with an upgraded last, softer midsole foam, a larger Zoom Air cushioning unit in the forefoot and an outsole pattern with an increased surface area for better grip.

Nike has yet to officially confirm the “Prelude” return and info on an exact release date is still forthcoming as well. However, the sneaker interwebs are stating that it’ll be touching down this holiday season. When it does, it’ll likely be priced at $180.

Elsewhere in the world of Nike, check out our recent Sole Mates interview with FAUST — who spoke about his SB Dunk High collab.