Nike brings Los Angeles baseball references to the Kobe 5 Protro with the new Dodgers colorway, officially titled Hyper Royal. The release connects Kobe Bryant’s long association with Los Angeles to the city’s baseball culture through a blue, grey and red design built around one of his most recognized basketball silhouettes.
The upper arrives predominantly in Hyper Royal, establishing the immediate connection to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wolf Grey accents provide contrast, while the Swoosh uses a metallic grey finish framed by white edging. Red baseball inspired stitching appears around the rear section of the shoe, introducing the clearest reference to the sport within the design.
Additional details connect the release directly to Bryant. His two Lakers jersey numbers, 8 and 24, appear on the inner tongues, extending the Los Angeles references beyond the Dodgers inspired palette. The numbers appear within graphic frames, adding another detail that distinguishes this edition from standard Kobe 5 releases.
The Kobe 5 Protro continues a Dodgers theme that first appeared on an unreleased Kobe 6 Protro PE. Natalia Bryant wore the pair publicly in 2023, before Vanessa Bryant gifted versions to Dodgers players in 2024. Nike brought the Kobe 6 Dodgers to retail in 2025, establishing the blue, white and red baseball treatment that now returns on the Kobe 5.
Nike first introduced the original Zoom Kobe V in December 2009 after Bryant asked the company to create an even lighter and lower basketball shoe than the Kobe IV. At the time, Nike described the Kobe V as its lightest and lowest profile basketball shoe. The original design weighed 10.6 ounces and used a 10 millimeter forefoot profile, with Flywire, heat bonded overlays and Zoom Air cushioning contributing to its lightweight construction.
Nike later introduced the Kobe V Protro in December 2019. Bryant developed the Protro concept around the idea of updating earlier models for contemporary performance instead of simply reproducing their original specifications. For the Kobe V, Nike increased the size of the forefoot Zoom Air unit and introduced softer midsole foam to improve responsiveness.
The latest version continues that performance approach. Nike equips the Kobe 5 Protro Dodgers with a flexible Air Zoom unit and scaled down traction designed to improve court feel. A minimally structured upper keeps the construction lightweight while providing support during play.
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Dodgers, officially listed by Nike as the Kobe 5 Protro Hyper Royal, releases August 15, 2026 for $190. Nike will also offer the colorway in kids’ sizing, with the Big Kids’ version priced at $122 and the Little Kids’ version at $97.
Name: Nike Kobe 5 Protro Dodgers (Kobe 5 Protro Hyper Royal)
Colorway: Rush Blue/Wolf Grey-Comet Red
SKU: IO6256-400
Price: 190 USD
Release Date: August 15
Available at: Nike and select retailers
