Nike’s latest Dodgers-inspired Kobe Collection landed in the hands of some of the team’s biggest names, and the reaction was exactly what you’d expect when a sharp sneaker drop meets a roster full of fans.
In a video shared by the Dodgers, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Will Smith were among the players shown opening a package of Nike gear tied to the collection, including the Kobe 5 Protro. The reveal also included the Kobe Air Force 1 Protro, giving the group a first look at the two shoes built around Los Angeles.
The Air Force 1 Protro comes dressed in wolf grey and rush blue, with red baseball-style stitching, decorative laces and Bryant’s original No. 8 on the heel. Nike says the model also features an upgraded setup with an ultra-plush drop-in ReactX foam midsole and Nike Air cushioning.
The Kobe 5 Protro takes a different approach, drawing from Bryant’s connection to Los Angeles and the city’s winning mindset. That pair uses a hyper royal colorway with wolf grey accents and the same red baseball-inspired stitching. It also comes with extra red and baseball laces in addition to the standard blue.
From the footage, the Kobe 5 Protro appeared to be the clear favorite. Tucker and Snell were especially vocal about it.
“I’m going to have to rock these,” Tucker said. Snell, who has an extensive sneaker collection, added that Nike “Killed these.”
This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have been linked to a Bryant shoe gift. Back in 2024, Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux, Bobby Miller and others got the Nike Kobe 6 Dodgers PE from Vanessa Bryant.
The Dodgers Kobe 5 Protro and Air Force 1 both released on Aug. 15, with early access available to fans who attended the Mamba League Invitational from Aug. 8-9. The full Kobe Dodgers collection also included several T-shirts, batting gloves, an arm sleeve and a limited edition baseball glove.
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