The Nike Kobe 1 '81 Points' Returns For 20th Anniversary

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It is difficult to judge that we are quickly approaching nan 20th day of Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point game. It seems for illustration conscionable yesterday I was a freshman successful precocious school, waking up to nan news of nan Los Angeles Lakers' shooting defender going disconnected against nan Toronto Raptors.

To observe nan date, Nike is re-releasing nan Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway. If this feels familiar, it is because nan footwear dropped successful 2019. This is nan first Protro colorway to get released for a 2nd clip (we really are getting old).

This is breathtaking for Lakers fans and sneakerheads. However, nan value summation will apt impact Nike's sales. Below is simply a elaborate look and breakdown of nan retro hoop shoes.

Release Information

The Nike Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway. | Nike

The Nike Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway will beryllium released astatine 10:00 a.m. EST connected Thursday, January 22. Online shoppers tin bargain nan capacity hoops shoes for $210 successful big sizes connected nan Nike SNKRS app and astatine different prime retailers.

Unless this is simply a very constricted release, these shoes are improbable to waste out. The '81 Points' colorway was 1 of nan first versions of nan Nike Kobe 1 Protro to beryllium released backmost successful 2019. However, that was for $175 successful big sizes.

It will beryllium reliable to person consumers to salary an other $35 for shoes that were released not that agelong ago. Especially erstwhile location are plentifulness of much affordable Nike Kobe options available.

Details

The Nike Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway. | Nike

With his grandma successful attendance, Bryant scored an unthinkable 81 points successful a azygous game, nan second-highest scoring capacity successful nan game's history.

This Nike Kobe 1 Protro was primitively designed arsenic a constricted player-exclusive colorway successful 2006 (Nike's transcript online mistakenly says 2007). It sports a achromatic upper, Varsity Purple detailing, and achromatic Nike Swoosh and Kobe Sheath logos.

Gold accents adhd a Lakers flair to nan iconic colorway, pinch metropolis names printed connected nan insoles (a motion to nan Lakers' schedule that season). Lastly, "The Power of Imagination" appears connected nan wrong of nan tongue.

Tech Specs

Outsole of nan Nike Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway. | Nike

Retooled for nan modern game, nan Nike Kobe 1 Protro features a smaller c fibre shank compared to nan original, on pinch a full-length Zoom Air unit, resulting successful a soft thrust and continuous responsiveness connected court.

We are yet to get our hands connected these capacity hoops shoes, truthful it will beryllium absorbing to spot if Nike made immoderate adjustments since nan first information of Nike Kobe 1 Protro colorways. Those models were genuinely capacity upgrades.

However, galore hoopers person complained that nan Nike Kobe Protro statement has since taken shortcuts connected capacity exertion while charging acold much than nan original models.

History

Details connected nan Nike Kobe 1 Protro '81 Points' colorway. | Nike

Bryant first signed pinch Nike successful nan summertime of 2003. He became nan look of nan Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5. After a fewer years, Bryant yet sewage his first signature, nan Nike Kobe 1 (Zoom Kobe 1) successful 2005.

The remainder is history, arsenic Bryant and Nike went connected to build nan highest-regarded signature hoops footwear statement of each time. In caller years, nan Nike Kobe statement has expanded into nan football, baseball, soccer, and manner categories.

Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for each your footwear news from nan NBA and beyond.