The Story Behind Kobe Bryant's Pajama-Inspired Nike Air Force 1 Protro "Soft Yellow"

The fictional, but ever-important Mamba Day is fast-approaching. The full extent of Nike, Inc.'s plans for Aug. 24 is yet to be seen, but the Oregon-based institution has been working on an Air Force 1 Protro inspired by an iconic Kobe Bryant photo from 1999.

Twenty-six years ago, the Los Angeles Laker was signed to Adidas. During the turn-of-the-century, he wore the KB III on the hardwood, a silhouette the Three Stripes is set to retro in 2026 as the rebranded "Crazy 3."

At the start of the '99-2000 NBA season, Bryant suffered an injury to his right hand. His broken fourth metacarpal bone took him out for over a month, but it didn't stop him from continuing to show up during practice.

The legend of Bryant's abnormal, exhaustive training methods have been shared by countless folks over the years, especially since his tragic passing. Photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, however, captured a moment back in '99 that puts any skepticism to rest.

Dressed in his pajamas underneath Lakers-appropriate training gear, Kobe Bryant took to practice one morning to shoot, dribble, and work on his game while his dominant right hand was bandaged up. We'll never know if he missed any free throws with his left hand during that unassuming training session, but what's set in history is his willingness to work at his craft in spite of obstacles, small or large.

Kobe Bryant's estate and the Swoosh conglomerate are honoring the moment captured on camera with the release of a "Soft Yellow" Air Force 1 Protro.

Set to launch at South Africa's Shelflife Store and other shops overseas on Friday, June 6, the pair adds to the growing roster of Air Forces inspired by the late NBA Champion. Nike's Mamba Mentality series will release "Court Purple" and "White" styles before the end of the year. Like his signature basketball sneaker line, however, the Protro edition of Bruce Kilgore's design features modifications worthy of a Performance Retro distinction.

Campaign photos by Shelflife showcase the AF-1's updates in all their glory. Air text on the midsole is replaced with Bryant's signature in a rich purple hue. Underfoot, the radial traction pattern dons the same regal tone, but is reworked to include: a nod to every year in which Bryant won an NBA title (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010); black mamba-reminiscent scales; and sword-in-sheath logos instead of stars at the tip of the toe.

Elsewhere, panels at the spine have been remodeled to take the shape of the Oscar-winning star's first NBA jersey number (8).

Although the "Soft Yellow" pair doesn't include interchangeable insoles like the Kobe 7 System, it includes a drop-in ReactX foam insert that delivers a plusher ride than standard styles of the Air Force 1 Low. A Nike Air unit is found on the insert's heel, while the footbed presents Bernstein's photo of a pajama-wearing Bryant.

The non-basketball-ready Protro arrives with a number of lace options, but a white-and-black plaid style ties back to Kobe Bryant's resilience during that random morning's practice. The team at Nike brought his pajama's to sneaker-form through the commemorative laces.

The pair is set to release on June 6 via select retailers but stay tuned for more details ahead of the pairs June 24 Nike.com release. For more from the Swoosh conglomerate, check out all Jordan releases remaining in the year.