A number of basketball stars have rocked custom colorways of Kobe Bryant’s sneakers.
Kobe Bryant’s signature line with Nike remains a hit in the basketball community, particularly now that select models have been given the “Performance Retro” or “Protro” treatment.
More than the return of fan-favorite designs, several basketball stars have also served as ambassadors of the Kobe line, such as Jalen Brunson, who have been privileged to receive their own Player Edition colorways, or PEs of Kobe Protro models to their liking.
Whether it’s a love letter to their roots or their city, one thing’s for sure: these pairs have often been a talking point among sneakerheads.
With the Black Mamba’s signature line continuing its welcome return to the hardwood, The GAME lists down some of the best Nike Kobe PEs we’ve seen in recent years.
Caitlin Clark’s ‘Cookie Monster’ Kobe 6
First worn last July 14, CC’s latest player edition Kobes take inspiration from Cookie Monster, a character from iconic children’s show Sesame Street.
Along with Cookie Monster’s signature blue filling up the scaly upper, CC’s newest PE comes in with fuzzy laces, while the tongue comes in two tones of brown to symbolize a cookie. And yes, Kobe’s iconic sheath logo essentially acts as the chocolate chip in this colorway.
Jalen Brunson’s ‘WTR’ Kobe 5
Jalen Brunson’s “WTR” (What the Rick) serves as a tribute to his father, Rick Brunson, who once played professional basketball before trying his hand at coaching. Given this inspiration, the WTR Kobe 5s integrate several colors from Rick’s former NBA teams into one cohesive design.
Throughout his playing career, Rick spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, and Seattle SuperSonics, with their team colors all being integrated into Jalen’s Kobe 5s.
DeMar DeRozan’s ‘Girl Dad’ Kobe 6
As a longtime ambassador for the signature line, DeMar DeRozan is known for his standout collection of Kobe sneakers, from always receiving the newest models, to iconic colorways that have yet to receive the “Protro” treatment.
DeMar has also rocked a number of custom colorways, including this “Girl Dad” Kobe 6 PEs that was reportedly designed by his daughters. Originally worn in 2021, DeMar’s Kobe 6s come in a pastel pink color and are adorned by large blue flower graphics.
Andre Iguodala’s ‘South Beach’ Kobe 5
These South Beach-inspired Kobe 5 might have been Andre Iguodala’s best Kobe pair during his time with the Miami Heat. But at the same time, this shouldn’t be surprising given that the Miami Heat’s “Miami Vice” identity has been a fan-favorite since its initial unveiling.
Anthony Davis’ Lakers-inspired Kobe 6
Throughout his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, big man Anthony Davis rocked several Kobe Protro models, including a number of player-exclusive colorways. But for this list, we’ll be picking this Laker-inspired design.
Sticking to a purple, gold, and black color scheme, these Kobe 6s definitely turned heads when AD rocked them a few years back.
Devin Booker’s Kobe 1
Long before getting his own signature line, Nike Kobes were Devin Booker’s footwear of choice, particularly the Kobes 4, 5, and 6. Outside of these models, Devin also had his own Kobe 1 PEs that were released in 2018, midway through his third season in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns.
Similar to DeMar Derozan’s Toronto Raptors-themed Kobe 1 PE, DBook’s custom design comes in the Suns’ purple and orange team colors, with his jersey number one being included by the heel area.
Jalen Brunson’s ‘Hyper Turquoise’ Kobe 6
Last but not least is another Jalen Brunson PE, which is the “Hyper Turquoise” Kobe 6s he rocked in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Inspired by the iconic Statue of Liberty, these Kobe 6s come in the landmark’s iconic turquoise colors, while metallic copper is used on the Nike Swoosh, Kobe’s sheath logo, and the heel counter. Completing the colorway is a marbled finish on the outsole.
The PE is reportedly releasing for this year’s holiday season, making it a must-cop for New York and Kobe fans around the world. As with other Kobe Protro models, we’ll be expecting this pair to fly off the shelves minutes into its availability.
Banner images from NBA Kicks on X.