The Kobe 8 Protro Halo will arrive on August 23
In celebration of Kobe Bryant’s 45th birthday, the Kobe 8 Protro Halo will be released as an all-white variant of the beloved basketball shoe, making its official return later this month. The silhouette was worn by the late, great Kobe “Bean” Bryant during the first half of the 2011-2012 season and made its last appearance in Nike’s 2016 “Fade to Black” pack.
Designed by Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant, she collaborated with Nike to create the Halo concept as a way to celebrate and honor her husband’s birthday. Nike has confirmed that the Halo concept will be celebrated annually with a release each year, starting with the Kobe 8 Protro Halo.
The Kobe 8 sneaker is still a popular silhouette today. Created and designed by Eric Avar, the shoes have a soccer-inspired look and are incredibly light and low cut. The retros have a traditional monochrome design with engineered mesh uppers and pebbled leather overlays, and the tongue and laterals are accented with embroidered logo. The Zoom Air midsoles have Braille elements carved on the back, and a gloss-black wedge at the midfoot and traction outsoles are suitable for use on hardwood floors.
“I’m always focused on improving my game, to perform at my best,” said Kobe at the shoe’s first unveiling in 2012. “By shaving fractions off the height and weight, it allows me to play faster with more control. I want to feel like I’m moving at the speed of light.”
The draw for the Nike Kobe 8 Protro Halo begins on Wednesday at 7 AM PT and will be available on the Nike SNKRS app. The shoes will also be sold at select Nike retail locations.
