Nike Kobe 5 Protro Returns
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro "Lower Merion Aces" — a remastered version of Kobe Bryant's 2010 high school-inspired colorway — drops this month. The release honors the late legend's roots at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
The original "Lower Merion" colorway first dropped in 2010 as a highly limited House of Hoops exclusive, making it one of the rarer Kobe 5s for collectors. The design's Metallic Silver and Team Red palette directly reflects the school colors of the Lower Merion Aces. Bryant famously led the Aces to a Pennsylvania state championship in 1996, the school's first in over 50 years, before declaring for the NBA draft. While the 2010 version featured the 'Aces' logo, the upcoming Protro is expected to showcase Kobe's high school jersey number, '33', on the heel. The "Protro" concept, a term coined by Bryant himself, stands for "Performance Retro." This approach keeps the iconic external design of the original shoe while updating the internal technology with modern components like enhanced cushioning and improved traction for today's athletes. The Nike Kobe Protro line officially launched in February 2018 with the release of the Kobe 1 Protro. Since then, several of Bryant's signature models have received the Protro treatment, a practice that has continued in partnership with his estate. This release is part of a larger slate of anticipated Kobe models. The Kobe 5 Protro "Lower Merion Aces" is scheduled to be released on March 23, 2026, with a retail price of $200.
