Nike Celebrates Kobe Bryant's NBA Draft With 14-Pair Protro Mystery Pack

Quick Fire° Facts

• NikE's kobe 4 Protro "Draft" Pack celebrates 30th anniversary of kobe Bryant's 1996 NBA Draft

• The pack includes 14 pairs, with 13 Protros inspired by teams that passed on bryant

• a 14th pair features los angeles lakers colors

• non-la pairs are a mystery purchase experience, so buyers don't know which pair they have until unboxing

• pairs feature "white" wear-away uppers that reveal team colors

The Swoosh has prepped a total of 14 pairs for the occasion, with 13 Kobe 4 Protros dedicated to one of the teams that passed up on Bryant in 1996. The 14th pair is done in an iconic gold and purple in honor of the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise that got it right and went on to earn five more NBA titles thanks to Bryant.

Nike's Kobe 4 Protro "Draft" Pack is completely randomized. The mystery purchase experience hides which pair you've bought until you open your shipment. These non-Lakers pairs start with "White" wear-away uppers that reveal team colors for organizations like the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers; some colorways are more limited than others in the collection.

The "Draft" Pack Protros release via Nike SNKRS on Friday, June 26, for $190.

Kobe Bryant played his entire 20-year NBA career for the Los Angeles Lakers. Before joining the purple-and-gold as a result of the 1996 NBA Draft, 13 different franchises passed up on him, with the Charlotte Hornets trading him to L.A. before the night ended.

As part of its Summer 2026 roster, Nike Basketball is remembering the occasion by releasing over a dozen "Draft Day" Kobe 4 Protro releases, each inspired by the 13 teams that passed up on the teenager.

Over the last decade, the Swoosh conglomerate has touched on Bryant's Draft Day story on a few occasions—via solo and collaborative efforts. One of the most-celebrated projects was UNDEFEATED's "What If?" collaboration, which outfitted the Kobe 5 Protro in colors inspired by the Hornets and other NBA teams who weren't convinced enough by the 17-year-old to add him to their rosters.

The 13 teams that passed on Kobe Bryant were the: Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Each commemorative pair of the "Draft Day" Kobe 4 Protro sees color schemes inspired by the teams that passed on Bryant. Additionally, insoles are marked with each franchise's position in the '96 NBA Draft.

Stay tuned for firm Nike.com release details, which should follow a "blind bag" style. Some pairs are expected to be more limited than others.