Basketball shoes usually die a quiet death. They release, they sit on shelves for a month, people play in them until the soles bald, and then they're forgotten when the next model drops. But the Kobe 9 What The is different. It’s loud. It’s high. It’s arguably the most aggressive design Nike ever put into the Kobe line, and even now, in 2026, it’s the one shoe that makes everyone stop and look.
Honestly, the first time you see a pair of these, it feels like a fever dream. You've got colors clashing everywhere—neon greens, deep purples, hits of orange, and that unmistakable high-top collar that looks more like a boxing boot than something you’d see on a hardwood floor. But there's a method to the madness.
The Manny Pacquiao Connection
Most people think the height was just for show. It wasn't. After Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles in 2013, the narrative around his signature line had to change. He was obsessed with the idea of protection without losing speed. He actually spent time watching Manny Pacquiao train, noticing how the high-cut boxing boots provided a "one-with-the-foot" feel.
Eric Avar, the design genius behind the Mamba’s most iconic silhouettes, took that insight and ran with it. The result was a shoe that defied the low-top revolution Kobe himself had started years prior. The Kobe 9 What The wasn't just a sneaker; it was a statement that the Mamba wasn't done yet.
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Breaking Down the Chaos
The "What The" concept started as a fluke with the SB Dunks years ago, basically a way to mash up every cool colorway into one Frankenstein of a shoe. For the Kobe 9, this meant pulling "DNA" from the Masterpiece, the Influence, the Perspective, and several others.
If you look at the heel, you’ll see those nine red horizontal lines. Those aren't just a design choice. They represent the nine stitches used to repair Kobe's Achilles. It’s a gnarly detail that adds a layer of grit to a shoe that otherwise looks like an art project.
The Tech That Actually Held Up
Flyknit was the big story back then. It was the first time Nike used the tech on a basketball shoe, and they didn't hold back. They used "tunnels" for the Flywire cables to ensure that even though the shoe felt like a sock, your foot wasn't going anywhere during a hard cut.
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- Traction: The pressure-map outsole is legendary. It’s widely considered some of the best grip ever put on a court shoe.
- Cushioning: The original used a Lunarlon drop-in midsole. The 2025 Protro version—which caused absolute chaos on the SNKRS app—swapped that for Nike React foam.
- Support: Carbon fiber panels on the heel. Not plastic. Real, stiff carbon fiber that kept the back of the foot locked down like a vise.
Why the Protro Hype is Real
We’re currently seeing a massive resurgence of the Kobe 9, and the Kobe 9 What The Protro release in May 2025 reminded everyone why this shoe stays relevant. The retail price jumped to $240, which is steep, but the resale market didn't care. On platforms like StockX and GOAT, you’re looking at prices easily clearing the $400 mark for deadstock pairs.
The 2025 Protro version kept the 2015 aesthetic perfectly intact but fixed the "bottoming out" issue of the old Lunarlon foam. Using React made the shoe more durable for actual hoopers. It’s a weird paradox: a shoe that looks like a collector’s item but performs better than almost anything on the market today.
Common Misconceptions
A lot of guys think the high-top collar provides ankle support. It really doesn't. Not in the way a rigid brace does, anyway. The Flyknit is too flexible for that. What it actually provides is "proprioception"—basically a sensory reminder to your brain of where your ankle is in space. It’s a psychological safety net.
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Also, don't even think about wearing these outside. The rubber is notoriously thin and soft. One session on a concrete park court will cheese-grate that beautiful pressure-map outsole into nothing. These are indoor-only trophies.
How to Tell if Yours are Legit
With the 2026 market being flooded with high-tier reps, you've gotta be careful. The easiest "tell" on a fake Kobe 9 What The is the carbon fiber. On the real deal, it should be slightly textured and have a specific "shimmer" when the light hits it. Fakes often use a cheap plastic with a printed-on pattern that feels smooth to the touch.
Check the Flyknit "depth" too. The authentic pairs have a very complex weave where multiple colors of yarn are visible within a single square inch. If the colors look flat or muddy, you’re likely looking at a knockoff.
The Actionable Playbook for Collectors
If you're looking to grab a pair now, here's how to play it:
- Prioritize the Protro: If you plan on actually playing in them, get the 2025 version. The React foam is vastly superior to the 2015 Lunarlon, which by now has likely crumbled or hardened.
- Size Up: These run notoriously narrow. If you have a wide foot, you almost certainly need a half-size up, or your pinky toe is going to be screaming after twenty minutes.
- Check the "Sutures": On the heel, ensure the nine red lines are stitched, not just painted. It’s a small detail fakes often mess up.
- Verification is Mandatory: Never buy these off a random seller on social media without a third-party authentication service. The "What The" colorway is one of the most replicated shoes in history.
The Kobe 9 What The isn't for everyone. It’s polarizing. It’s a bit "much" for some people. But in a world of boring, monochromatic sneakers, it remains a masterpiece of storytelling and performance engineering. Whether you're a hooper or a collector, it represents a specific moment in time when Nike and Kobe were willing to get weird in the pursuit of perfection.