Jalen Brunson's "What the Rick" Nike Kobe 5 P.E. to Release Next Year

It seems that New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is having another one of his Nike Kobe Player-Exclusives (P.E.) release to the public.

According to the duo of X user @brandon1an and Romanian outlet Sneaker Market, the "What The Rick" Kobe 5 Protro Brunson wore in May 2025 will launch as part of Nike Basketball's Summer 2027 lineup.

The Performance Retro style originally designed exclusively for the now one-time NBA champion features a multi-colored makeover—including vibrant hits of "Total Orange" and "Hyper Cobalt." In true "What The" style, the pair comprises of colors from various sources of inspiration, specifically all nine NBA teams for which Jalen's dad, Rick Brunson, played for. Those teams are:

• Portland Trail Blazers (1997–1998, 2001–2002)
• New York Knicks (1998–2000, 2000–2001)
• Boston Celtics (2000–2001)
• Chicago Bulls (2002–2003, 2003–2004)
• Toronto Raptors (2003–2004)
• Los Angeles Clippers (2004–2005)
• Seattle SuperSonics (2005–2006)
• Houston Rockets (2005–2006)

Jalen Brunson has gone on record to say that he prefers to play in Nike Kobe rereleases instead of getting his own signature sneaker line. A proper release for narrative-driven pairs like the "What The Rick" Kobe 5 offer a glimpse of what's still to come from the Knicks superstar's partnership with the Kobe Bryant Estate and Nike.

Expect the multi-colored Protro to land on Nike.com, Foot Locker, and other popular retailers between April and June 2027.

For more performance footwear styles, check out the adidas Adizero Evo SL running shoe.

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