The Iconic Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Grinch’ Is Dropping Just in Time for Christmas

Update: Dec. 16, 2020 at 4:15 p.m. ET

One of the most beloved signature sneakers of the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant is returning on Christmas Eve.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Green Apple” — which is commonly referred to as “Grinch” — will be available via the SNKRS app on Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. ET. They will come with a $180 price tag.

The look, Nike said in the product description, is based on a the colorway originally released on Christmas Day in 2010. The sneaker is executed with reptile-inspired uppers and is delivered in tonal lime green hues, which is a nod to Bryant’s Black Mamba persona. Also, Nike made the shoe lower and sleeker than before, and equipped it with updated tech such as a large and flexible Air Zoom Turbo unit, responsive foam cushioning and scaled-down traction.

To Buy: Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Green Apple” aka “Grinch,” $180; Nike.com (Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. ET)

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What We Originally Reported on May 7, 2020

One of most beloved Kobe Bryant shoes from his Nike signature line is a bold green look the late NBA icon wore on the court on Christmas Day 2010. And if social media leaks are true, fans of the Black Mamba should be excited, as it is reportedly returning with updated performance technology in 2021.

Twitter user @soleheatonfeet shared an image of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro in the “Green Apple/Volt/Crimson/Black” colorway today, which was dubbed “Grinch” when it made its debut on the feet of the Los Angeles Lakers legend a decade ago. Bryant wore the sneakers on the Staples Center court against a visiting Miami Heat squad that featured fellow Nike athlete LeBron James.

The reported release date of the shoe, according to @soleheatonfeet, is early 2021. The sneakers will reportedly return in Protro form, which means performance retro, adding the latest and greatest in technology to older beloved silhouettes.

At time of publication, Nike has not confirmed or denied the release of the Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch.”

The original iteration of the shoe is selling in the thousands on the resale market. StockX, for instance, lists the lowest ask for the shoe at $1,500 and the highest bid is $2,000. And on GOAT, the lowest ask for a pair is $1,655 and the highest is $3,320.

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