August continues to be an important month in the legacy of the late Kobe Bryant. In addition to being the month in which he was born 47 years ago, August represents the Los Angeles Lakers legend's original NBA jersey number. As such, the month's 31 days are dedicated to several initiatives inspired by the "Black Mamba," including the Mamba League Invitational.
Over the weekend, Nike Basketball powered the third annual event. In addition to showcasing top high school athletes, the occasion also served as a platform for the Swoosh and Vanessa Bryant to unveil new product from the Nike Kobe series. The Kobe 3 Protro Low was promised for hardcore hoopers next year, while the head of the Kobe Bryant Estate revealed an ultra-exclusive edition of the silhouette's original trim.
Sitting court-side at the Mamba League Invitational, Vanessa Bryant wore a Swarovski® crystal covered pair of the newly-launched Nike Kobe 3 Protro. The custom, 1-of-2 style features 5,575 crystals across the performance upper. The makeover makes a statement while playing into a number of ideas: 1. The oldest Bryant daughter's middle name is "Diamante," the Italian/Spanish word for diamond; 2. Diamond-shaped elements are inherently part of the third Nike Kobe signature model; 3. The lost Bryant Family members are precious like diamonds.
Given the sneaker's exclusive nature and premium build, no Nike.com release is planned for the style. You can, however, enjoy a closer look at the pair ahead.
For more from the Swoosh empire, check out all upcoming Jordan releases.