Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick" Releases Summer 2027
Jalen Brunson's fourth Kobe player exclusive to reach public release arrives this summer: the Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick," a multi-team colorway honoring his father's nine-season NBA career and current role as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks. The shoe pulls from eight franchises Rick played for, with Knicks blue and orange dominating the execution.
By Jordan Ellis
A Father's Legacy on Court
Jalen Brunson debuted the Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick" during Game 3 of the Knicks' first-round playoff series against Detroit on April 24, 2025—a moment that grounded the shoe's narrative in real competitive context. Rather than existing solely as a commemorative object, the PE earned its place on one of the league's most scrutinized guards during an actual playoff appearance. Rick Brunson, who spent nine seasons in the NBA across eight different organizations before transitioning into coaching, now serves as an assistant with New York, positioning the Kobe 5 Protro release squarely within the Knicks' orbit.
The "What The" naming convention signals a design approach layered with basketball history. Unlike the typical multi-brand patchwork that defines the "What The" category, this Kobe 5 Protro stays purposeful: each color story traces Rick's professional journey without sacrificing cohesion. Portland, New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, the Clippers, Seattle, and Houston all appear across the upper, but Knicks blue and Knicks orange claim dominance on the forefoot and lateral panels. The remaining NBA stops anchor the heel and secondary elements—a design strategy that prevents the shoe from dissolving into visual noise while honoring the biographical intention.
Design Execution
The Kobe 5 Protro silhouette, which returned to Nike's active rotation in 2020, carries significant weight in the brand's modern performance basketball canon. Its low-profile cut and responsive cushioning made it a preferred choice for guards during the original 2010–2011 run, and the Protro interpretation maintains that DNA while incorporating contemporary materials and construction methods. Brunson's willingness to wear performance-driven Kobes during actual games—rather than reserving them for off-court moments—reflects the model's legitimate court credibility.
The Total Orange and Hyper Cobalt primary palette sits against Black accents, creating visual separation and preventing the multi-team approach from overwhelming the eye. The colorway achieves what few "What The" releases manage: thematic clarity without reductive design.
Release Path and Availability
This marks the second Kobe 5 Protro to bear Brunson's name and the fourth of his Kobe player exclusives to receive a general release. Nike will debut an early launch in New York City before rolling the shoe out nationally in Summer 2027 through SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retail partners. The $200 retail price positions it within standard Kobe Protro territory, holding firm to the model's established market positioning.
Brunson's Kobe exclusives have established a pattern: they arrive first as game-worn pieces, build narrative through on-court visibility, then transition to commercial availability. The "What The Rick" follows that trajectory, having already earned its visual legitimacy through playoff action.
FAQs
When does the Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick" release?
The shoe is expected to launch in Summer 2027, with an early New York City release preceding the wider drop through SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retailers.
What is the retail price of the Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick"?
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick" retails for $200.
Where can I buy the Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick"?
The shoe will be available through Nike SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retail partners starting Summer 2027, with an earlier launch in New York City.
Nike under retail
Browse Nike items priced below retail on StockX
Release Info
Product: Nike Kobe 5 Protro "What The Rick"
Colorway: Total Orange/Black-Hyper Cobalt
Style Code: JA7364-800
Release Date: Summer 2027
Retail Price: $200
Availability: SNKRS, Nike Basketball retailers (Early NYC release expected)
Status: Confirmed
