Nike Honors Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol's Brotherhood With "Siempre Hermanos" Air Force 1

The life and times of Kobe Bryant continue to inspire new community-oriented initiatives and product from the world's largest sportswear company. In addition to remembering the time the Los Angeles Lakers legend was nicknamed "Lord of the Rings" at Harlem's Rucker Park, a special Nike Air Force 1 Protro arriving before 2027 will commemorate a lesser-known detail of Bryant's life: his and Pau Gasol's stakes in Siempre Mio, a gelding born in California in 2008.

Detailed shots from after-market platform GOAT showcase the latest reworked AF-1 in the Nike Kobe partnership, in all its "Twine/Baroque Brown/Flax/Light Cream/Ocean Cube/Metallic Dark Grey" glory. Perhaps less-expected, the Protro offering sees stitch lines around the heel that evoke images of Western-wear. Furthermore, the laces feature a horse shoe-shaped attachment that includes the Spanish phrase "Siempre Hermanos," which translates into English to mean "Always Brothers." When reading this message alongside the "09" and "10" numerals also found on the detachable decoration, it becomes obvious that the project commemorates Bryant's brotherhood with Gasol.

Bother NBA legends shared a locker room at the Staples Center from 2007-2014, winning back-to-back titles in '09 and '10. Bryant never shied away from competing with the Spanish player, but they shared a bond that went well-beyond the game of basketball.

The duo purchased an interest in Siempre Mio during a Lakers charity auction in April 2012. The gelding, however, was claimed following a loss in its claiming race at Hollywood Park two months later. The memory of that shared stake, however, lives on in the impending Air Force 1.

Stay tuned for firm Nike.com and select retailer release details. A launch is expected to take place on Saturday, July 25, weeks after Gasol's birthday.

For more from the Swoosh empire, check out the Air Jordan 6 releases expected in 2026 in celebration of the sneaker's 35th anniversary.