Nike Kobe ‘Draft Day’ release trolls NBA teams that passed on Bryant in 1996

The 1996 NBA Draft may be considered one of the greatest incoming class of rookies, featuring future Hall-of-Famers like Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, and none other than Los Angeles Lakers’ legend Kobe Bryant. However, 13 teams passed on the high school prodigy, including the Charlotte Hornets who drafted him. Coming soon, Nike will poke fun at the 13 teams that missed out on arguably the best to ever play the game with an upcoming Nike Kobe Protro collection.

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The 13 teams are as follows: 76ers, Raptors, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Celtics, Clippers, Nets, Mavericks, Pacers, Warriors, Cavaliers, and Hornets. The collection, dubbed the “Draft Day” pack, will include 14 sneakers to mark the Los Angeles Lakers as Bryant’s eventual forever home in the NBA. Using the Nike Kobe 4 as the silhouette, the Black Mamba collection will see one of its most expansive and detailed releases.

Nike Kobe 4 Protro ‘Draft Day’ collection

13 of the sneakers, representing each team that passed on Bryant, will come in white monochromatic looks from the sockliner and uppers all the way down to the outsole and laces. All braning, including Nike Swooshes and Black Mamba logos, will be accented by the primary color of each team. The insoles are done in each team’s secondary color and feature a ping-pong ball with each draft lottery pick on it up through 13.

The final sneaker, representing the Los Angeles Lakers, will come in gold and purple along with a Mamba logo on the insole replacing the lottery ball. It’s unknown whether the Lakers’ pair will see its own standalone release.

Finer details will include a tab on the inside of each tongue with “13 – K. BRYANT” stitched to mimic Bryant’s name plate on the draft board. Each white pair will come complete with icy translucent bottoms while the gold Lakers’ pair will feature a gold/purple marbled pattern along the outsoles, a further touch indicating the significance of the 14th and final pair.

The Nike Kobe 4 'Draft Day' mystery drop arrives in 14 colorways

13 pairs feature a white wear-away upper that reveals the team colors of the franchises that passed on Kobe in 1996, while the 14th arrives fully uncovered in purple and gold for the team that got it right https://t.co/dMBDqz5qRQ pic.twitter.com/PwbDr3XYMA

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Each pair will come in special gold snakeskin Mamba packaging. The white pairs will also feather a wear-away grain along the uppers that reveals each team’s secondary color underneath.

The Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Draft Day” collection will officially release June 26 via Nike App in very limited quantities. Their retail price is still unknown, but previous Nike Kobe releases have been retailing in the $190 range.

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