The Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM Gets Wild in “California Mountain Snake”

Finally, Vanessa Bryant’s latest run of Kobe reveals also included the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM “California Mountain Snake,” adding a seventh unreleased design to the growing list of newly surfaced pairs.

The pair leans into a reptile-inspired look, dressing the engineered mesh upper in a red, black, and off-white snake-like pattern. A clean white Swoosh with black trim cuts through the midfoot, while white laces and a pale tongue keep the upper balanced. Underfoot, the shoe is finished with a grey midsole featuring red speckling, black support panels, and a bright red outsole that ties back to the upper’s bold mix of colors.

As the name suggests, the “California Mountain Snake” theme brings a more literal reptilian twist to the Kobe line, which already carries natural Black Mamba connections through Bryant’s nickname and signature series legacy. On the Kobe 9 Elite Low EM build, that concept feels especially fitting, with the lightweight silhouette serving as a canvas for one of the more visually aggressive pairs Vanessa has previewed.

For now, release details for the Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low EM “California Mountain Snake” have not been announced. It remains to be seen whether the pair will release at retail or stay as part of Vanessa Bryant’s ongoing preview run.

Make sure to checkout this floral Nike Kobe 6 colorway, also unveiled by Vanessa.

For more performance models from the Swoosh empire, check out the LeBron 23.