Kobe 6

A wonderful opportunity

2010 was a great year for Kobe Bryant as he led the LA Lakers to a famous victory over long-time rivals the Boston Celtics, taking the team to a 16th NBA championship title while also obtaining his 5th. For his game-winning performances, Kobe was awarded the Finals MVP award, but, perhaps more significantly, he and his Lakers teammates earned themselves the chance to make a rare three-peat in the process. If they could pull it off, they would achieve something truly special, and Kobe in particular was determined to do so as it would see him emulate his hero and mentor, Michael Jordan, by winning three consecutive titles on two separate occasions. To help with the attempt, Nike and Kobe created a new basketball trainer known as the Zoom Kobe 6. At the time, this classy signature shoe was one of the best pieces of performance footwear the sport had ever seen, and, quite remarkably, it remains so more than a decade later.

A fantastic start

At the beginning of the 2010-2011 NBA season, Kobe was still using his fifth signature shoe. The second of his game-changing low-top basketball designs, it reinforced the value of his decision to go against the prevailing trend for high-tops as its stunning blend of speed, agility and lightweight support helped him achieve a strong start to the season. The Lakers won their first 8 games, and in one match against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe scored a rare triple-double by hitting 30 points while also making 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Then, in game 9, he scored 34 to surpass 26,000 career points at a younger age than anyone else in the history of the NBA at the time. This prompted the commentators to suggest that Kobe was an “automatic hall-of-famer” during the Lakers’ next game against the Phoenix Suns.

Perfecting the design

As the Lakers continued to power towards the end of the year, legendary Nike designer Eric Avar was busy putting the finishing touches on the Kobe 6. Avar had already masterminded the first two groundbreaking low-tops in the series, which had had a huge impact on the NBA, convincing many players to switch out their high-tops in favour of the more agile design, and he decided to stick with the now-popular style for his third Kobe model, using its predecessors as a template. In fact, many people consider it to be the culmination of Avar’s first run of Kobe sneakers, and a shoe that perfected the design of the low-profile basketball trainer up to that point.

Evolving the Kobe line

In many ways, the Zoom Kobe 6 was like the two models that came before. It had a circular Zoom Air unit beneath the ball of the foot and a larger Zoom airbag under the heel, with spongy Phylon foam in between and a carbon fibre shank through the centre of the midsole. All of this combined to provide high levels of impact protection, responsiveness and comfort without adding too much bulk. Lightweight, durable Flywire cables supported the upper, the wide outsole prevented rolling of the foot and the sturdy heel counter, which was key to the success of the low-profile basketball shoe, delivered excellent lockdown, thus allowing the wearer to confidently perform sharp cuts without worrying about suffering injury – something that had concerned many NBA players when the first Kobe low-top had been released. The heel piece on the Kobe 6 was further optimised by its altered shape, which held the foot more firmly in place than ever before, and it had sections cut out of its sides to save yet more weight, thus facilitating even faster movement around the court.

A reptilian touch

Along with this, the sneaker carried new features that set it apart from those that had come before. The most overt were the snake-like scales spread across the upper. In addition to giving the shoe a distinctive reptilian look that honoured Kobe’s Black Mamba alter ego, they had an important functional aspect as their polyurethane construction protected the upper from damage. Made of an ultra-thin mesh, the upper was breathable, lightweight and flexible, providing a snug fit around the foot, but it was also quite delicate as a result. Without the scales, or ‘islands’, it would have been damaged easily, and the whole shoe would have needed redesigning. As it is, Avar’s ingenious creation added structure to the upper, making it highly durable and aesthetically pleasing at the same time, its unique appearance drawing the Kobe 6 more attention as a lifestyle shoe as well.

A specialised insole

The scales were not the only innovation to elevate the Kobe 6 above its forebears. As with the earlier designs, Kobe himself was involved in the creative process, and his ideas informed the final product. This time, he asked Avar to make a shoe that moulded to his foot, resulting in a new insole made from dual-layered memory foam. While a little stiff at first, this padded sockliner changed its shape to match the specific dimensions of the wearer’s foot so as to make it more and more comfortable each time it was put on. Thus, once the shoe had been worn in, the fit was so good that it felt like an extension of the foot. Elsewhere, the mesh tongue was highly breathable, and its honeycomb padding helped to relieve any pressure created when the laces were pulled tight, allowing the wearer to get a secure fit without any unwanted pain or discomfort.

A challenging debut

This impressive combination of features ensured that the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 could outperform the other basketball trainers of the day when it was first released at the very end of 2010. By that point, the Lakers were almost 30 games into the season and well on their way to another Playoffs appearance. They were top of the Pacific Division, far ahead of the second-placed Phoenix Suns, and 3rd overall in the Western Conference with a record of 21-8 but were about to face a new phenomenon in the NBA: the Miami Heat’s Big Three. This fearsome trio was made up of generational talent LeBron James, electrifying All-Star Dwyane Wade and tenacious double-double expert Chris Bosh; three players who had been the top-scorers at their respective clubs since each was selected during what many consider to be one of the highest quality draft picks of all time in 2003. Going up against the group that James would later call ‘The Heatles’ for their ability to draw a huge crowd even while on the road, just like the Beatles had done, Kobe and the Lakers fought hard, but eventually lost 96-80 as James scored a triple-double at the Staples Center on Christmas Day of 2010. Despite the result, Kobe’s fans were treated to their first on-court sighting of his sixth signature shoe in an eye-catching design whose bright green outer was inspired by the green mamba snake. It also referenced the player’s unwavering Mamba Mentality and determined style of play, but, thanks to its holiday season release, the colourway came to be known as the Grinch, after the cynical, Christmas-hating Dr. Seuss character.

Captivating aesthetic details 

When the Kobe 6 first came out, it was an instant success. The Grinch, which looked like no other basketball shoe of the time, was so popular that it was hard to get hold of, with many fans of the design having to opt for the other release colourway, the Black Del Sol, instead. With its sleek black upper and vibrant yellow highlights, this was also a highly successful shoe, but it has never reached the same heights as the Grinch, which is one of the most iconic and sought-after of all Kobe sneakers. As well as these captivating colour schemes, the Kobe 6 had a number of aesthetic touches that won it plenty of new admirers. Kobe’s instantly recognisable ‘The Sheath’ logo retained its place on the tongue and sole, while his signature was moved to the centre of the heel counter, and the tread pattern on the outsole was redesigned to take on a scaly look that matched the snake-themed upper and gave excellent, multi-directional grip at the same time. Lastly, a subtle line of the Kobe Code was etched into the lateral midsole, its Braille-like characters representing the words ‘Black Mamba’.

Breaking records

Following its tough first outing against the Miami Heat, the Nike Kobe 6 flourished as the Lakers pursued another NBA title. Kobe himself continued to put in outstanding performances, breaking records along the way. Firstly, he became the youngest player to pass 27,000 points in the NBA after shooting 41 in a home loss to the Boston Celtics. The very next day, he scored 32 points in an overtime win against the Houston Rockets to join an elite group of players to have scored at least 25,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. Other names on the list include fellow Lakers legends Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabar, as well as the greatest of them all: Michael Jordan.

A memorable All-Star Game

Performances like these saw Kobe Bryant named an All-Star for the 13th year in a row. In a display of his enduring popularity, he received by far the most votes, with 2.3 million, and on February 20th, 2011, he turned up to the annual exhibition game in a new Kobe 6 colourway whose richly toned red, black and white design emulated the colours of the Western Conference team. Playing in his home stadium, Kobe led the scoring with 37 points while also topping the rebound stats for either team with 14 to help the West to a 148-143 victory. In out-scoring other greats of the era, including Kevin Durant (34) and LeBron James (29), Kobe earned himself a fourth All-Star MVP award, becoming only the second man in history to win that many after high-scoring Hall-of-Famer Bob Pettit. No other player has yet joined them on this number.

Closing in on the three-peat

Kobe’s prolific scoring continued through the rest of the regular season, and in March 2011, he won the Western Conference Player of the Month award with a points per game average of 25.8 that saw the Lakers lose just one game (to the Miami Heat) all month. By the end of the season, he had made 2078 points, leaving him just behind LeBron James (2111) and Kevin Durant (2161) in the scoring charts. Meanwhile, the Lakers had taken a step towards the three-peat by finishing top of the Pacific Division and joint second in the Western Conference with a record of 57-25 alongside the Dallas Mavericks and behind the San Antonio Spurs (61-21). As well as being third on the list of lead scorers, his impressive Usage Percentage of 35.1% put him top of the league for the stat, which shows how many team plays he was involved in during his time on the court, thus emphasising just how important Kobe was for the Lakers as a team. In the first round of the Playoffs, they faced the New Orleans Hornets, whose dangerous point guard, Chris Paul, was fast becoming one of the best playmakers in the league. After the first 4 games, the teams were locked at 2-2, with Kobe top-scoring in Games 1 and 3, but the Lakers achieved a definitive victory in Game 5, and Kobe’s 24 points completed a 4-2 series win, taking him to a high score from either team of 135.

The Mavericks versus the Lakers

In round 2 of the Playoffs, the Lakers came up against the Dallas Mavericks, a team they had beaten twice during their incredible run of games just two months earlier. At the beginning of Game 1, the commentators spoke of Kobe’s “remarkable year”, stating that “he could make a case for being the MVP”, and praising his excellent numbers, his “unbelievable level” of play, his “drive” and “determination to lead” and his “will to win”, which “separates him” from other players. Sporting the Kobe 6 Black Del Sol, the Lakers’ star man began well, making a high score of 36 in Game 1, but his team was defeated after giving up a 7-point lead from the end of the third quarter to lose by a single field goal. Their chief tormentor was the towering German, Dirk Nowitzki, who is considered by many to be the best basketball player ever to come out of Europe. Standing at 7 ft tall, he was simply too powerful for the Lakers defence, and he continued to use his height to score over their heads throughout the series. Despite Kobe’s efforts, Nowitzki and his teammates proved too strong, and the Lakers lost the next 2 matches to be left facing the prospect of a clean sweep. During Game 4, in which Kobe wore another version of his sixth signature sneaker known as the Lightbulb for its bright yellow upper, Nowitzki had a relatively quiet game, making just 17 points. However, it was the Maverick’s reserves, in particular long-range expert Jason Terry, who took the Lakers apart this time, repeatedly hitting three-pointers in what the commentators described as a “ridiculous” performance. Nowitzki ended the series as top-scorer with 101 points to Kobe’s 93, before going on to become overall points leader for the Playoffs as the Dallas Mavericks took down the Big Three by defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

The end of an era

Losing to the eventual champions was scant consolation for the Lakers as their attempt at a second three-peat came to an abrupt end against the Mavericks. The disappointing moment marked the end of an era, with Phil Jackson, who had coached the Lakers to 5 NBA titles during his tenure, leaving the team. In the years that followed, they struggled to reach the same levels as they had done under his leadership. For the Kobe signature line, it was also a time of change; while many later Kobes were low-tops, the 6 was the last to carry the general design that had begun with Avar’s iconic Kobe 4. Even its direct follow-up, the Kobe 7, would alter some of the shoe’s most distinctive features and technologies.

The Prelude Pack

As Kobe’s signature line changed and evolved, the Kobe 6 remained one of the most beloved in the series, as was proven in 2014, when it was a standout shoe in the Prelude Pack. This set included all of Kobe’s first 8 signature basketball trainers, each one coming in a unique colourway inspired by the player’s life and career. The Zoom Kobe 6 Prelude was decorated in mutli-coloured graphics referencing Venice Beach – the lively coastal area near Kobe’s Los Angeles home where he could sometimes be seen playing streetball – and is one of the most highly regarded of all Kobe colourways, not just those in the Prelude Pack.

The Kobe 6 Protro

After a gap of 6 years, the Kobe 6 returned once more as the silhouette got an update with its first Protro release in 2020. During his career, Kobe was always trying to improve his abilities in any way he could, and his Performance Retro series reflects that. It consists of selected heritage models which have been given a performance boost by adding new features or adjusting old ones, and the Kobe 6 was the fourth to benefit from such enhancements. Already a fantastic performance basketball trainer, it was a difficult model to improve, but Nike managed to do so. Outwardly, the Kobe 6 Protro looked very similar to the original, with the same scaly upper and only minor changes to the shape that improved the fit and made it a little sleeker. Along with this, a very slight increase in the thickness of the tread enlarged its surface area, therefore enhancing the traction it provided. More significant alterations were made to the sole unit, which had a thinner, more responsive Zoom Turbo airbag covering most of the forefoot and the latest Cushlon foam replacing the original Phylon padding. This modern foam was so bouncy and supportive that it could replace the heel Zoom Air of the original, meaning that the Protro version had just the one Zoom unit in the forefoot. This new combination brought about even better responsiveness and shock absorption while maintaining the winning attributes that had made the first design so popular.

Iconic colourways and honorary designs

The first Kobe 6 Protro colourway was the iconic Grinch. It was released on December 24th, 2020; almost 10 years to the day since Kobe himself had debuted the original. It combined the best aspects of the 2010 version with the benefits of modern technology, while its insoles, which were still made of soft, pliable memory foam, carried the words “I want a shoe that molds to my foot” in reference to Kobe’s design request to Avar. Given its amazing performance qualities, famous history and the untimely passing of its namesake, the Kobe 6 Protro Grinch was hard to get hold of, especially since only limited numbers were released. This demonstrated the fan’s enduring love for the model, and Nike subsequently brought back several other classic colourways as Protros, including the All-Star, the Think Pink, which was originally made to raise awareness of breast cancer, the White Del Sol and the Italian Camo, which celebrates the time Kobe spent in Italy as a child. Brand new colourways were also introduced to the line-up, such as the Reverse Grinch, which flipped the colour scheme of the OG design to cover the outer in a vibrant Bright Crimson with lime green accents. More poignantly, Vanessa Bryant worked with Nike to develop the Mambacita Sweet Sixteen model as a tribute to her late husband and daughter. Featuring unique details honouring both Kobe and Gigi, it also carried the emblem of the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation – a non-profit organisation set up by Kobe and his family to help underprivileged athletes and young children get the funding and support they need to take part in sport. Proceeds from the sale of the Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet Sixteen were donated to the foundation so that the memory of Kobe and Gigi can continue to have a positive impact on the future of aspiring athletes.

A timeless basketball trainer

The release of the Kobe 6 Protro reinvigorated the original silhouette and reminded everyone just how effective it was as a performance basketball shoe. Throughout the early 2020s, it was seen on the feet of top NBA players, from All-Stars like DeMar DeRozan and Devin Booker to the league’s number 1 sneaker enthusiast, PJ Tucker. In fact, in the years since the Protro was launched, the Kobe 6 has been one of the most popular options in the NBA, sometimes even vying with the Kobe 5 Protro for top spot. During the 2021-22 season, the 5 was worn by 36 different players and the 6 by 35, but by the following season, the 6 Protro was the most popular, with 29 players donning the updated design and the 5 Protro dropping to 21. In 2023 and 2024, the Kobe 6 became even more dominant as 39 NBA stars played in the silhouette, with the Nike KD 16 and LeBron 20 joint second with just 18 players each. This amazing return is a testament to both Eric Avar’s design genius and Kobe Bryant’s unique sporting vision, which combined over a decade ago to create the timeless Kobe 6.

A powerful legacy

Today, the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 and its Protro counterpart continue to have a profound effect on basketball and sneaker culture, with players and fans alike seeking to honour the legacy of one of the greatest to ever play the sport. His constant desire to push his own limits and those of the game is an inspiration to people around the world, and his memory lives on in the outstanding footwear he and Nike produced together. Despite the huge number of signature shoes that exist in the modern era, and particularly in the world of basketball, the Nike Kobe 6 still dominates the sporting landscape as his devoted fans flock to display their love both for the great man and for a shoe that changed the way they see the game, the way they show up for the game and the way they play the game.