How Many Colorways Make Up the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe”?

8th April 2025 EDT RELEASES

How Many Colorways Make Up the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe”?

Bet you didn't know there were so many Kobe 8 colorways out there, did you?

Nike Kobe Retail US$

Nike’s “What The” series has become a celebrated part of their repertoire, distinguished for its audacious and visually arresting amalgamation of past colorways and design elements onto a single silhouette. The motif has been employed across a plethora of legacy models, with famous examples being the Nike SB Dunk Low “What The Paul”, “What the Dunk”, and most recently, the CLOT x Nike Dunk Low SP “What The CLOT”. And, of course, the Kobe 8.

The “What The” Kobe 8 was first introduced in December 2013. In over a decade since, the pair has attained a mythic quality, imbued with a narrative that it will be just another unattainable grail, like many others, to many others—hitherto April 2025, when the pair makes a grand return.

The Concept Behind the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe”

The concept behind the Kobe 8 “WTK” is a bold exercise in storytelling. Rather than adhering to a singular design narrative, these editions serve as a retrospective, a weaving of disparate threads from previous Kobe models. Each panel and each accent often draws inspiration from a specific iconic release, creating a shoe that is both familiar and utterly unique. It’s a wearable collage, a unitary display of the breadth of the Kobe Bryant x Nike partnership.

The Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe” famously incorporated elements from nearly thirty different Kobe 8 colorways. The result was a 左右不对称的杰作 (zuǒyòu bù duìchèn de jiézuò—a masterpiece of asymmetry), where the left and right shoes presented distinct palettes and patterns.

The left pair features an amorphous blend of blue, purple, and red hues, and the right orange, yellow, and green. In tandem, they exemplify the clash of colors and textures that is the hallmark of the “What The” design language.

Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe” Release Date

The Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The Kobe” is slated for release on 13 April, commemorating this year’s Mamba Day, the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s final game, in which, in true Mamba fashion, he famously scored 60. Priced at US$190, they will be available on Nike SNKRS and at select Tier 0 retailers. Of course, expect them on the SNKRDUNK App once D-Day comes to pass.

Nike Kobe “What The” Apparel Collection

To round out the Mamba Day release, the Kobe 8 Protro will arrive with an adjacent collection that comprises t-shirts, hoodies, and a special “What The” basketball. See more in the gallery above!

How Does the Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What the Kobe” Fit?

The Kobe 8 is primarily a basketball sneaker, and like others of its make, would fit a bit snug. This is to prevent heel slippage. These days, however, they’ve transcended their intended purpose on the hardwood to become more of a lifestyle option. Thus, it’s worth going a half-size up.

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More Nike Kobe on SNKRDUNK

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