Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro ‘Lakers’: Begin Again
Style ID: CD4991 500 Retail Price: $175 Release Date: March 26, 2020 Everyone knows about the tragic events that led to the basketball world lost for words. Kobe’s death sent ripples throughout the globe and many people are still coping with the loss of one of their idols. It’s been a little over a month and we are receiving reports that Nike will be releasing their first Kobe sneaker since his untimely death.
The Build-Up
Nike was actually supposed to release a different Kobe 5 the same week he passed away. Because of his death, they ended up pulling the release because it just would have been in bad taste. Now they feel comfortable enough to release to the public as a celebration of his basketball career. The new sneaker, nicknamed ‘Lakers’, is reported to be released on March 26, 2020. They were actually worn by Anthony Davis during the 2020 NBA All Star Game.
Simply by looking at the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro ‘Lakers’ you can tell why it is given the name it bears. A black and purple colorway is then edged with a yellow stripe that makes every feature of the sneaker standout. From afar it is a bit difficult to distinguish the black and purple apart. However, the yellow keeps everything separate and easier for everyone to see the colorway.
The Nike Kobe 5
The Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro ‘Lakers’ features the same classic features that every other Kobe 5 Protro has. The classic Black Mamba logo on the tongue and the undersole. Then we get to the Kobe Bryant signature on the heel of the sneaker. All of these little details that we took for granted before, is what gives the sneakers the sentimental value that they have now.
It’s going to be a bit of a bittersweet moment when the release date comes. Without a doubt it is going to be a difficult sneaker to get thanks to all those people trying to monetize Kobe’s death. But I’m not going to discuss the immoral actions of those people… in this post. If you are fortunate enough to get a pair of the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro ‘Lakers’ then the feelings will be a bit mixed. Hopefully the sneaker will honor the fallen Laker legend well.
Bittersweet Poetry
Obviously you’ll be happy that you were able to buy a pair but I think there will be more feelings that will overcome you. The realization that it is Kobe’s first sneaker release since his death. It will be the first of most likely many sneakers that he never got to see the release of. Essentially, it will make Kobe’s death feel all the more real this time around. When most people heard the news, they described a feeling of surrealness. Almost as if they never truly processed the whole event. My guess is that, for many people, this still rings true. But holding those sneakers in your hands might make it feel realer than ever before. The realization that he truly is gone.
Where will the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro ‘Lakers’ be sold?
Nike SNKRS should have them but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.