Nike is Bringing out Another Hornets Colored Kobe for 2026

There’s something about NBA superstars and the Charlotte Hornets. Of course, none of them actually have any impact on the court for the team, but Michael Jordan had his spot in the owners' box, Steph Curry grew up in the franchise’s locker room while his dad played on the team, and Kobe Bryant held up a Hornets jersey at the draft before immediately being shipped west to the Lakers. They might not have the titles those stars won, but at least Charlotte gets some good sneaker colorways.

The latest Hornets-themed colorway from the Nike camp comes on a Kobe 9 EM Protro, the latest in a series of purple Kobes nodding to his alternate timeline possibilities in Charlotte. The pair uses a gradient upper, like the WNBA rendition of the Kobe 9, but opts for a blue and purple finish to match the Hornets' team colors. Light blue starts on the toe and transitions into a deep purple as you move back, with the midsole coming in a white and purple combo.

This is the second Hornets-themed Kobe colorway Nike has planned for 2026, with a purple and teal combo coming to the Kobe x Nike Dunk Low Protro collection, adding another connection between the Kobe lifestyle catalog and the line’s on-court bread and butter.

The Nike Kobe 9 EM Protro Hornets will be released June 1, 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $190. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for all the latest Nike Kobe news.