Nike releases the Kobe 8 in memory of the basketball superstar

Original content published: 10 August 2023

• To celebrate Kobe Bryant, Nike is releasing the Nike Kobe 8 Proto Halo.
• The performance basketball shoe is made to help with responsiveness and has added details to pay homage to the late player.
• Nike is commemorating Kobe's legacy with a two-day youth basketball tournament, starting on his birthday, 23 August.

Nike has announced the newest instalment in its Kobe 8 collection: the Proto in Halo colourway, a triple-white colour scheme. To celebrate Kobe Bryant, his wife Vanessa partnered with the brand to imagine and create the Halo shoe to remember the basketball superstar on his birthday, 23 August.

While clearly belonging to the Kobe 8 collection, the Proto Halo also features a number of design details and updates. For example, an embroidered Swoosh on the upper is paired with an embroidered Mamba on the shoe's tongue. With performance in mind, the shoe also touts Nike React Foam, an update from the former Lunarlon midsole in previous versions. The React Foam aims to provide comfort and responsiveness while bolstering durability. A herringbone traction pattern on the shoe's sole also offers strong grip—critical for quick movements on the court.