Quick Facts
- Nike is launching a Kobe Protro AF1 to honor Bryant's Rucker Park appearence in 2002
- The pair mimics the AF1 Mid Kobe wore during the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic
- Expect upgraded quality and a ReactX drop-in insole
- A release is expected Fall 2026 for $155 (men) and $105 (GS)
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In 2024, the Brooklyn Nets hosted their first Practice in the Park. The NBA franchise and its players conduct drills and practice at Brooklyn’s Potomac Playground in Bed-Stuy alongside combines and local pick-up games for young athletes. The event continued this year in 2025, but it’s far from the first time NBA stars took the court in NYC parks.
There are countless examples of this happening over the years, but probably the most legendary was Kobe’s surprise appearance at the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park on July 18, 2002. Kobe had just won his third championship in three years with the Lakers only a month prior, and once word got out that the Black Mamba was playing streetball in Rucker Park, the place was packed with fans.
When he walked onto the court, he was wearing a bright orange Entertainer’s jersey with his number 8, a matching pair of shorts, and an Air Force 1 Mid in white and orange. Three days earlier, Bryant’s contract with adidas had ended, making him a sneaker free agent. He would go on to sign with Nike a year later, but during this period, he was spotted wearing a variety of different brands.
Before tip-off, Hannibal, the legendary announcer at Rucker Park, dubbed Kobe “Lord of the Rings.” The Black Mamba would put on a legendary performance and back up this nickname, dropping 31 points, showing the streetball community and those who cut their teeth at the legendary park why he was one of the greatest in the world. In an homage to this nickname and to the sneakers he wore, Nike is releasing a Protro Air Force 1 in the same color scheme.
Kobe didn’t show up to the park wearing the Air Force 1. In an interview with ESPN, Lonnie Harrell, a local star at the Rucker courts, said, “He didn't even have [proper] shoes. Somebody at the court -- his name's Tiny Bum -- brought him a pair of Air Force 1s to play in.” Bum would go on to explain, “I went and got the shoes from the parking lot in my trunk in the car. I wasn't star-struck. [I was] talking a little s---, get [him] amped up. That's what you do to people that come around the park, and then they put on a show.”
The pair itself was a GR NYC-themed Air Force 1 Mid. Most of the upper is doused in white, with orange embroidery used across the entire design. More orange is found on the strap, the tongue tag, and the NYC logos on the heel. Nike would later pay homage to the pair and Rucker Park with a pack of sneakers in 2020. The Rucker Park Pack featured an Air Force 1 Low, Air Barrage, and Air Flight 89 in white and orange colorways. The AF1 even featured the park’s zip code, 10039, on the upper.
For this new low-top Protro iteration of the colorway, Nike uses white tumbled leather on most of the upper and orange contrast stitching. More orange comes in the form of the Kobe sheath logo on the lateral heel, the NYC logo on the heel tab, and the mesh sockliner. With the Protro moniker attached, the pair features a ReactX drop-in insole for added comfort.
The Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro Lord of the Rings will be released Fall 2026 through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s and GS sizing, the retail price is set at $155 and $105, respectively. To stay updated on the latest Nike Kobe releases and more in the sneaker world, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Images via pluto.snkrs
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
