Nike introduces 'Year of the Mamba,' a year that challenges athletes to choose the hard, uncomfortable path by intertwining Kobe Bryant's legendary Mamba Mentality with the Chinese New Year, which in 2025 celebrates the Year of the Snake. The collection includes sneakers and apparel.
'Year of the Mamba'
Nike celebrates Kobe's dedication to greatness with the 'Year of the Mamba' collection. This capsule embodies former basketball player Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality: a mindset defined by an unrelenting drive for perfection, fueled by perseverance beyond what most possess.
To honor Kobe's legacy, Nike designers embraced their own Mamba Mentality to create a fitting collection. The collection also ties into the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese calendar, 2025 is the Year of the Snake, and given that Mamba also refers to a snake, this collection is perfectly timed.
The collection comes trainers like the Kobe 5 Protro ‘Year of Mamba’ with Zoom Air and Protro foam, and unique designs like the iconic ‘Eggplant’ and ‘University Red’ colourways. The clothing line includes premium items, including a jacket with satin finish and a snake symbol.
Each piece from the collection is designed to embrace both performance and lifestyle, with a focus on perseverance and ambition, even off the court.
Details Collection
Inspired by Kobe's perfectionism, the Details Collection will be released later, featuring updated classics such as modern pleated tear-away pants and a shooting shirt reimagined as a dress. In addition, Nike will drop new versions of the Kobe 9 Elite High Protro and Kobe VI Protro, featuring enhanced technologies.
The Kobe 5 Protro Year of Mamba silhouette and apparel will be available globally at Nike and selected retailers on January 9, 2025. The Kobe 9 Elite High Protro 'Masterpiece' and Details Collection will be available starting February 8, 2025. And last, the Kobe VI Protro 'Sail' will be released on February 13, 2025.
