Honestly, the first time you lay eyes on a "What The" Kobe, your brain kinda glitches. It’s a lot to take in. One shoe is neon green and purple, the other is bright orange and deep blue, and somehow, there are about fifteen different patterns fighting for your attention at the same time. It looks like a bucket of leftover paint exploded in a Nike warehouse.
But that’s exactly the point.
The What the Kobe basketball series isn't just a pair of shoes; it’s a living archive. It’s Nike’s way of taking every iconic colorway from a specific model and smashing them together into one mismatched, chaotic masterpiece. If you're a sneakerhead or a hooper, these are the "Final Boss" of the Kobe line. They represent the peak of the "Mamba Mentality" era where Nike wasn't just making performance gear—they were making art that you could actually drop 40 points in.
The Method Behind the Madness
You’ve probably seen the "What The" concept on Dunks or LeBrons, but it hits different with Kobe. Why? Because Kobe Bryant was obsessive. He didn't just want a cool shoe; he wanted the lightest, lowest, and most responsive tool for the job. When the Kobe 8 "What The" dropped in 2013, it changed the conversation.
Usually, when a brand releases a "mash-up" shoe, it's a gimmick. But with the Kobe 8, it was a celebration of a season where he was playing some of his most efficient basketball before the tragic Achilles injury. The shoe featured bits and pieces from the "Mambacurial," the "Christmas," and the "All-Star" versions.
It shouldn't work. Visually, it’s a disaster on paper. But on foot? It’s legendary.
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Why Hoopers Are Still Obsessed
If you walk into a high-level pro-am or an NBA practice today—in 2026—you are still going to see guys wearing Kobes. Even with all the new tech out there, the Kobe 8 and 9 silhouettes remain the gold standard.
- Weight: The Kobe 8 is basically a feather. It’s one of the lightest basketball shoes ever made.
- Feel: They use a drop-in midsole (usually Lunarlon or React in the newer Protros). This means your foot is sitting directly on the cushion, giving you a court feel that most shoes can't touch.
- Traction: The "What The" Kobe 8 specifically has a grip that sounds like a car tire screeching on every cut.
The Evolution: From 7 to 9
The "What The" treatment wasn't just a one-off. It became a tradition that fans waited for like a holiday. Each model brought a different vibe to the table.
The Kobe 7 System
This was the one that really kicked things off for the "What The" theme in the Kobe line. It was weird. It had these interchangeable "inserts" (Attack Fast or Attack Strong). The "What The" version took the predator themes—leopard, shark, dart frog—and blended them. It was the first time we realized Nike was willing to go totally off the rails with the Mamba’s footwear.
The Kobe 8: The Fan Favorite
If you ask any collector which "What The" is the best, 90% of them will say the 8. It used Engineered Mesh, which allowed for crazy graphic prints. One foot has that massive "NIKE" branding in 3M reflective material on the side, while the other plays with Volt and Electric Orange. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s arguably the most comfortable basketball shoe Nike ever produced.
The Kobe 9 Elite: The Boxing Boot
Then came the Kobe 9. This was a massive departure. After Kobe’s Achilles surgery, he wanted more support, so Eric Avar designed a high-top that looked like a boxing boot. The "What The" Kobe 9 Elite is a towering piece of Flyknit technology.
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It’s got these hits of neon green, blue, and red stitched together. It’s much more "refined" than the 8, but it still carries that spirit of "too much is never enough."
Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?
Here is the reality: "What The" Kobes are expensive. Like, "down payment on a used car" expensive if you're looking for an original 2013 pair in deadstock condition. However, with the Kobe 8 Protro "What The" and the Kobe 9 Elite Protro "What The" releasing recently, the dream is a bit more attainable for the average person.
But you have to be careful.
The market is flooded with high-quality fakes. If you're buying these to actually play in, you need the real deal because the "Protro" (Performance Retro) versions have upgraded foam. The original Lunarlon in the 2013 pairs has likely "bottomed out" or turned into a brick by now. If you try to play in an OG pair today, you’re basically asking for a foot injury.
Performance vs. Collection
If you’re a collector, the OGs are the holy grail. The colors are slightly more vibrant, and they carry the history of that specific era.
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If you’re a player, go for the Protros. Nike swapped the old foam for Nike React, which lasts way longer and has better energy return. You get the iconic look with 2026 performance tech. It's a win-win, assuming you can actually win the raffle on the SNKRS app (which, let's be honest, is still a nightmare).
How to Style These Without Looking Crazy
Let’s be real: wearing these to the grocery store is a choice. You can't really "match" a shoe that has 12 colors on it. The secret? Don’t try.
Basically, you want to wear all black or very neutral tones. Let the shoes do the talking. If you wear a matching neon shirt, you’re going to look like a highlighter. Stick to black joggers or simple shorts. On the court, though? All bets are off. Wear the loudest jersey you have. The "What The" Kobe is built for the spotlight, so you might as well lean into it.
Actionable Steps for Sneaker Hunters
If you're looking to add the "What The" Kobe to your rotation, don't just jump on the first pair you see on a resale site.
- Check the Midsole: If you're buying an older pair, ask for a photo of the drop-in midsole. If it looks yellowed or cracked, it’s a "display only" shoe.
- Verify the 3M: On the Kobe 8, the "NIKE" text on the medial side of the left shoe should be highly reflective. Fakes often get the "shine" wrong.
- Know the Sizing: Kobes run notoriously snug. Most people prefer going up half a size, especially if they have wider feet. The Kobe 9, in particular, is very narrow through the midfoot because of the carbon fiber shank.
- Monitor Mamba Day: Every April 13th, Nike usually does something special. Keep your eyes peeled for restocks or surprise drops of these "What The" colorways.
The "What The" Kobe is a reminder that basketball is supposed to be fun. It’s a middle finger to the boring, "all-white" or "all-black" team shoes of the past. It’s loud, it’s aggressive, and it’s perfectly Kobe. Whether you're hunting for a pair of the 8s to dominate your local gym or the 9s to put on a shelf, you're buying a piece of history that refuses to go out of style.
Next Steps:
- Determine if you want these for performance (get the Protro) or collecting (get the OG).
- Download the Nike SNKRS app and set alerts specifically for "Kobe" to catch the next Protro drop.
- Check reputable secondary markets like GOAT or StockX, but always cross-reference the SKU codes (like HM9621-900 for the Kobe 8 Protro) to ensure you aren't overpaying for an older version.