2024 was a big year for Kobe Bryant shoes, and 2025 looks to be just as exciting. Ahead of retro releases like the Moonwalker Kobe 9 and What the Kobe 8, Nike Basketball celebrates the upcoming Lunar New Year with “Year of the Mamba” Kobe apparel and two Kobe 5 Protros.
Previously reported to be released in February, we now know that the snake-themed “Eggplant” Kobe 5 has been pushed back to January 9th. The purple color of the title appears on the base, adorned with a glittering “Metallic Gold” snake overlay on the side. It expresses the zodiac animals and Kobe’s most famous nickname all at once. Kobe’s two NBA jersey numbers appear on the insole, while the inside of the tongue is dotted with kanji that read “Year of the Mamba.” The tongue and collar are lined with black reptilian-textured fabric that surrounds the upper, complemented by a translucent blue gum sole underfoot. Additionally, Nike celebrates the Year of the Snake with special red dust bags and shoe boxes.
This marks the release of two “Year of the Mamba” Kobe 5s to be released in January 2025, ahead of the “University Red” colorway (adult and GS sizes) to be released on January 18th. One of them. As previously mentioned, the “Egg Plant” colorway will be available alongside the Mamba Year Apparel collection on January 9, 2025 for $200. Ahead of the drop, check out the official images below.
