Kobe IX Elite Low EM Protro Basketball Shoes "Thunder Blue/Laser Orange/Football Grey/Daybreak"

The Kobe IX Elite Low EM Protro represents the intersection of Kobe Bryant's relentless pursuit of innovation and Nike's basketball engineering. The Elite Low EM variant strips the silhouette to its essentials—a streamlined low-cut profile that prioritizes ankle freedom and court responsiveness. Released as part of Nike's ongoing Protro lineage, this model honors the original IX's legacy while incorporating contemporary materials and cushioning refinements. The shoe speaks to players and collectors who recognize the Kobe IX's understated dominance in the mid-2010s basketball landscape, a period when Bryant's design input pushed the brand toward minimalist performance.

Constructed with a blend of engineered mesh and strategic synthetic overlays, the Elite Low EM maintains structural integrity without excess weight. The shoe employs Nike's Zoom Air cushioning technology in the forefoot, delivering the responsiveness essential to Kobe's scoring-first mentality. The herringbone outsole pattern is calibrated for multidirectional court movement, with rubber coverage optimized for traction during lateral cuts and explosive drives. The midfoot shank provides torsional stability, critical for a guard-focused basketball shoe. Throughout the build, materials work in concert rather than competition—there's no padding for its own sake, only purposeful construction.

This Thunder Blue, Laser Orange, Football Grey, and Daybreak colorway channels a cool-to-warm palette that reads equally well on court or in transition wear. The blue dominates the upper, while the laser orange accents provide visual contrast and energy along the heel and swoosh. The palette works with both monochromatic fits and complementary streetwear styling, making the shoe versatile beyond basketball contexts. Worn with grey or black bottoms, the colorway leans technical; paired with lighter tones, it becomes more assertive.

The Kobe IX Elite Low EM Protro is available now at Nike for $190—the standard retail price for performance basketball shoes at this tier. There is no discount on this release, with no promotional code available. The full retail pricing of $190 reflects Nike's current positioning for the Protro line, maintaining 0% off the original MSRP. For those unfamiliar with the model, the Elite Low EM runs true to size, though players accustomed to lower-cut basketball shoes may want to try a half-size down for a snugger lockdown feel. The shoe's availability in this colorway underscores Nike's commitment to rotating Kobe silhouettes into the active catalog, keeping the legacy in circulation without forcing artificial scarcity.