Released in March 2011 as part of a four-piece Kobe 6 pack and re-released in March 2021, the Nike Kobe Protro 6 “All Star” revives a colorway worn by the Black Mamba himself during the 2011 NBA All-Star Game.
The NBA All-Star Game is a basketball exhibition game hosted every February in a different city of the USA, in which 24 of the league’s top stars showcase their skills.
The idea was born during a meeting between NBA President Maurice Podoloff, NBA publicity director Haskell Cohen and Boston Celtics owner Walter A. Brown and as a consequence, it was played for the first time at the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951.
Each year, the starting lineup for each squad is selected by a combination of fan, player and media voting, while head coaches choose the reserves, seven players from their respective conferences, so each side has a 12-man roster. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players, although if a selected player cannot participate because of injury, the NBA commissioner selects a replacement.
The 2011 edition was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and it was the 60th edition of the event. Both the Clippers and Lakers were awarded the All-Star Game in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on June 9, 2009, and it was the second time that the Staples Center had hosted it.
The arena had previously hosted the event in 2004, although that was the fifth time that Los Angeles has hosted the All-Star Game, indeed before the Staples Center opened in 1999, the city had previously hosted the game in 1963, 1972 and 1983.
That year, Kobe led the Western Conference to defeat the Eastern and was eventually named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Over the past few years, Kobe Bryant’s signature performance silhouettes have been restored as part of a ‘Protro line’ (Performance retro), which injects the sneakers with modern performance technologies while keeping the OG design intact.
The Kobe 6 was originally released in 2010 and at the time it was a lesson in character development, as it was designed with embossed textures and personal details that tapped into the player’s Black Mamba alias.
Lower, sleeker and faster-looking than before, it’s fitted with an updated Air Zoom Turbo unit integrated into the forefoot helping provide an elite responsiveness in all directions for quick start-and-stop play.
Other technical features consist of the heel, being composed of softer and more responsive foam, the increased surface area of the traction pattern helps improve ground contact for sharper cuts and scaled-down traction keeps the silhouette close to the ground for improved court feel.
Conceived to celebrate the city of Los Angeles, the shoe sports a classic color scheme designed to match 2011’s ASG jerseys and upgraded tech that helps bring on-court performances into a new era.
Starting from the top, we can spot a bold red synthetic material serving as a foundation, while spray paint-like shades and sprinkled red dashes land over the upper, resembling the silhouette’s signature scaly snakeskin texture.
Moreover, leather heels and plastic heel backing are done up in black, whereas the Swooshes are presented in white as a further hit of contrast.
Black and red laces, nodding to the game’s year and location come fused with ‘2011’ – ‘LA’ dubraes, although more branding is provided by Kobe’s signature holographic logo on the tongue and his signature in silver on the black heel clip.
Diving deep into the inner area of the shoe we can glimpse a pair of foam insoles supplying a special red and white print that nods to the All-Star Game vibe, as well as some total black mesh linings upholstering the ankle during the plays.
In the end, a venomenon wordmark is situated on the toe, the shoe’s dual-layer memory foam sock-liner creates a personalized fit, the Flywire construction provides support and a large Air Zoom Turbo bag is embedded in the forefoot.
Those who watched the 70th All-Star Game tonight at State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, probably saw the Nike Kobe Protro 6 “All Star” on the feet of Portland Trail Blazers player Anfernee Simons, who won the Slam Dunk Contest.
The Nike Kobe Protro 6 “All Star” is a shoe that is closely tied to what Kobe represented for an entire generation of basketball and sneaker fans. A champion among champions, a legend we’ll never run out of memories and stories to tell.
Credits: Emanuele Arca, Riccardo Romani
