Nike Reminisces on the 1996 “Draft Day” With the Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Protro

by

Okay, so I’m seriously hyped about the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Protro “Draft Day” kicks! They’re dropping June 1st, 2026, and the colorway is amazing – a mix of Fierce Purple, Blue Lagoon, and White. The SKU is IM6119-500, if you’re looking them up, and they’ll retail for $190. I’m definitely trying to snag a pair straight from Nike when they release.

Nike Basketball is looking back at a pivotal moment in NBA history: the 1996 draft. Fans remember Kobe Bryant briefly holding up a Charlotte Hornets jersey before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, Nike is celebrating that famous trade with a new sneaker. The Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Protro, in a striking Hornets-themed color scheme with a bold gradient design, will be released for the Summer 2026 season.

Instead of simple color blocks, this Kobe 9 design uses its special Engineered Mesh upper to create a striking visual effect. The shoe features a smooth, flowing gradient that starts with a vibrant teal (“Blue Lagoon”) at the front and fades into a deep purple (“Fierce Purple”) at the back. This color combination mirrors the Charlotte Hornets’ jersey and captures the team’s bold, retro style, bringing a strong sense of 1990s nostalgia to the modern basketball shoe.

Nike balanced the shoe’s bright teal and purple with sharp white details. The white extends to the updated sole, the Nike Swoosh on the sides, and the Kobe logo on the tongue. This combination of bold colors and clean white creates a shoe that looks good both on the basketball court and as everyday wear.

This new release stays true to its core principle: blending classic style with modern performance. Nike has updated the decade-old shoe to meet the demands of today’s game, so players can still enjoy the lightweight comfort, snug fit, and bouncy cushioning that made the Kobe 9 so popular when it first came out.

Read More

2026-05-20 06:26