Kobe Bryant’s Upgraded Nike Air Force 1 Gets a New Style Honoring the Lakers’ Legacy

After giving the timeless Air Force 1 sneaker a major upgrade which also honored the late Kobe Bryant during summer 2025, Nike is set to deliver even more versions of the enhanced model this year.

Confirmed for a Wednesday launch is the Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro in Work Blue/Metallic Gold/Summit White. The “City of Champions” colorway features a matching theme with an upcoming Nike Kobe 1 Protro. The style honors The Forum, the historic arena that the Los Angeles Lakers called home from 1967 to 1999. As such, the back of the tongue features a depiction of the building, a reference to its “the Fabulous Forum” nickname and a notation of the 30-plus year stretch from ’67 to ’99.

Beyond the on-the-nose connections to The Forum, the upcoming Bryant-branded Air Force 1 Low Protro also tells its story through its materials. A premium white leather upper is combined with Work Blue corduroy as a nod to the arena’s white column exterior and former “Forum blue” color. Cracked leather on the Swoosh and heel tab alludes to the venue’s aged aesthetic, while a glow-in-the-dark outsole references the arena’s nighttime illumination. Lastly, a city map is printed on the insole.

Looks aside, the key aspect of Bryant’s Air Force 1 Low Protro are the internal changes made to the retro basketball shoe. True to the late Lakers legend’s desire for “performance retro” versions of his reissued sneakers, Nike applied discreet updates to the Air Force 1 without changing its signature style. Chief among the updates is the ReactX drop-in midsole, which gives the otherwise antiquated tech a boost in comfort.

The Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro City of Champions will be released Wednesday for $150 from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Nike Sportswear retailers. The style code for this pair is IM0583-400. Readers can find a detailed look at the sneaker and its accessories below.