Nike Zoom Kobe 5 ProtroKay Yow

Product Description

The Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro Kay Yow is a tribute colorway of Kobe Bryant's fifth signature shoe honoring Kay Yow, the legendary North Carolina State University women's basketball head coach who compiled 737 wins over a 34-year career before passing away in January 2009 after a long battle with breast cancer, with the White and Metallic Silver colorway referencing the clean, silver-detailed aesthetic associated with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's broader awareness campaign. The Kobe 5 Protro updates the original 2009 Kobe 5 designed by Eric Avar with modern Nike cushioning technology while maintaining the silhouette's defining low-cut profile, lightweight construction, and the aggressive traction pattern that made the original one of the most performance-trusted basketball shoes worn by NBA players during the 2009-10 season when Kobe Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 16th NBA championship. The Protro process applies Zoom Air cushioning, updated materials, and a modernized sole unit beneath the original's visual design language, creating a shoe that delivers current basketball performance standards within the Kobe 5's historically significant aesthetic. Kay Yow's impact on women's basketball and sports medicine funding through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which has raised over two million dollars for cancer research grants prioritizing women and underserved communities, gives this colorway a commemorative significance that connects Bryant's own philanthropic legacy to a coach he deeply admired.

Released May 10, 2023 at $180 retail via nike.com and select Nike Basketball retailers with style code CW2210-100.

The Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro Kay Yow was released on May 10, 2023 with a retail price of $180.