KTAF NEWS

Detroit Pistons rookie Jaden Ivey went off in his Summer League debut. Ivey scored 20 points, dished 6 assists, and grabbed 6 rebounds. Even better, the 20-year-old did it in style. Ivey wore the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita Sweet 16’ colorway.

As you can see in the images, the black/white colorway pays homage Hoka One One to Kobe and Gianna Bryant. However, this specific shoe was once at the center of the falling out between Nike and the Bryant estate.

Following the horrible events of January 26, 2020, Nike moved forward with the release of the performance-retro version (Protro for short) of the Nike Kobe 6. It was the last model to be released before Nike’s contract with Bryant’s estate expired.

Unfortunately, insult was added to injury when the ‘Mambacita’ colorway began popping up for sale on sneaker websites after the contract had run its course. Thorogood Boots Vanessa Bryant immediately called out Nike on Instagram, “Nike has not sent any of these pairs to me and my girls. I do not know how someone else has their hands on these shoes I designed in honor of my daughter, Gigi, and we don’t. I hope these shoes do not get sold.”