Official Preview of the Nike Kobe 9 EM "Mambacita"
Another touching tribute dedicated to Gigi Bryant.
Name: Nike Kobe 9 EM “Mambacita”
Colorway: Black/White/Metallic Gold
SKU: FZ7333-001
MSRP: $180 USD
Release Date: May 1
Where to Buy: Nike
Update: We’re just two weeks away from the release of the Nike Kobe 9 EM “Mambacita” and the Swoosh has just offered a complete preview of the sneaker. As mentioned in our previous coverage below, it comes equipped with a white to black gradient across its upper, as well as golden accents. These gilded features include the Swooshes, the tongue’s Sheath logo, and nods to Gigi via the heel and Mambacita charm attachment. Release remains set to occur on May 1 via Nike SNKRS and select storefronts at a starting price of $180 USD.
Update: It’s been a week since Vanessa Bryant unveiled many of the upcoming releases from the Nike Kobe franchise. One standout inclusion that we hadn’t seen before was the Nike Kobe 9 EM “Mambacita,” which has again been previewed ahead of its launch that is set to take place at the beginning of next month. The most notable detail revealed in this follow-up is the right heel’s golden heart with a “2” inside it — nodding to Gigi Bryant’s jersey number. The special pair remains expected to drop on May 1 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers. For more info about it, review our initial breakdown below.
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Original Story: Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram to reveal upcoming releases from Nike Basketball’s Kobe line. While some pairs we’ve previewed previously, like this month’s re-release of the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The,” new colorways have been unveiled as well. One such design is the Nike Kobe 9 EM joining the “Mambacita” series. This theme, dedicated to Gigi Bryant, began in 2022 with the Kobe 6 Protro and has featured the Kobe 4 and 8 Protro in subsequent years.
Vanessa Bryant
Our limited first look at the Kobe 9 EM “Mambacita” sees it don the theme’s typical black, white, and gold color scheme. The base of the upper sees a white to black gradient joined by golden lateral Swooshes that matches the heel’s “Gigi” callout and the tongue’s Sheath logo. The sneaker also features a black and white marbled pattern throughout its sole unit.
At the time of writing, Nike Basketball has not yet announced its release plans for this “Mambacita” version of the Kobe 9 EM. Stay tuned for updates, including official imagery of the kicks, as we currently expect this pair to drop on the series’ typical launch date of Gigi Bryant’s birthday (May 1) via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a starting price of $180 USD.
