A fan-favorite Nike Kobe Bryant model is getting a makeover with a brand new look and there are early rumors the sneaker could be released on a certain fall holiday.
The Nike Kobe 5 “X-ray” first appeared online in March 2024 by way of a teaser from Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant. Vanessa’s teaser included a top-down view of the purple sneakers, which feature a print of a foot bone structure, and also revealed a glow-in-the-dark outsole. While the exact inspiration behind the “X-ray” theme has not been confirmed, it could be a reference to a vintage Nike Kobe T-Shirt featuring a similar graphic of his hand adorned with NBA championship rings (below).
While the “X-ray” theme is a first for Kobe sneakers, Nike previously has used similar concepts on other shoes such as the iconic Air Force 1. Beginning in 2018, a Halloween-timed “Skeleton” Air Force 1 was released in white boasting a bone print across the side panels. The theme was revisited in 2019 with a black style, again 2020 with an orange iteration and most recently, in a purple colorway during 2022.
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In related news, Nike is expected to reissue the Kobe 8 “What the Kobe” for the first time during summer 2025.
Newly leaked images shared on Instagram by @idontsellshoes offer a detailed look at the upcoming Nike Kobe 5 Protro “X-ray” release. Furthermore, insider @zsneakerheadz adds that the sneaker is expected to release October 31 on Halloween. The colorway, officially named “Deep Royal Blue/Baltic Blue-Glacier Blue,” will retail for $190 in adult sizing. Readers can see the shoe’s glow-in-the-dark details below.
