Featuring a full upper of blacked-out mesh with a matching black midsole, the side panel Swooshes are gold to match the “4.13.16” date detail running vertically down the heel of the right shoe and the four embroidered lines on the left shoe representing Kobe’s ankle stitches
An XI logo on the insole is also gold, while the Kobe sheath tongue logo remains black, but an “XX” next to it adds more gold for the 20 seasons Bryant played in the league
The Nike Kobe 11 Elite Protro Fade to Black will be released April 13, 2026
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Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
Kobe Bryant’s final game in the NBA is the stuff of legend. After a year-long farewell tour (they loved him like that), Kobe put up 60 against the Utah Jazz at home in Los Angeles, capping off a Hall of Fame career and going out with an unforgettable bang. On his feet that night? A Fade to Black pair of black and gold Nike Kobe 11 Elite Lows.
As we come up on the 10th anniversary of Nike’s Mamba Day celebration honoring Bryant’s final show-stopping performance next month, Nike is revisiting the Fade to Black pair with a Protro update. The Nike Kobe 11 Elite Protro Fade to Black is here for the first time since the 2016 drop after The Black Mamba’s final game, joining a return of the commemorative Mamba Day colorway of the same silhouette.
Featuring a full upper of blacked-out mesh with a matching black midsole, the side panel Swooshes are gold to match the “4.13.16” date detail running vertically down the heel of the right shoe and the four embroidered lines on the left shoe representing Kobe’s ankle stitches. An XI logo on the insole is also gold, while the Kobe sheath tongue logo remains black, but an “XX” next to it adds more gold for the 20 seasons Bryant played in the league.
The Nike Kobe 11 Elite Protro Fade to Black will be released April 13, 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $200. For all the latest Nike Mamba Day news ahead of the April holiday, download the Sole Retriever App.
