MAMBACITA

6.3.21

Nike Kobe 6 Proto “Mambacita” Release Info TBD

A new shoe has been revealed that has customers dying to get their hands on pairs, but others are cringing and asking how they’ve managed to be leaked, and if they’re actually being sold. As we have reported on earlier this year, Vanessa Bryant decided to discontinue the partnership between Kobe and Nike. She was hoping for a life-long contract with the brand, but when it was not presented, Vanessa decided not to renew the contract, when it came time to sign for a few additional years. Now, a new sneaker has emerged the internet, with in person shots, which is said to be a memorial sneaker for their daughter GiGi, which was never even approved to have been made.

Yesterday afternoon, Bleacher Report Kicks shared on Twitter and image of the sneakers from the back, on feet. The caption stated “An on-feet look at the Nike Kobe 6 Proto “Mamba Forever” releasing later this year,” Since this shot is from the back, all we are really looking at is the heel view. However, we can see a black and white color way, the “M” Mamba logo, what appears to be a scaley, snake-like print on the inside, and most important, one side reads “KOBE” and the other, “GIGI.”

People were instantly going crazy of the sneakers, joking another L on the way. But did we not call an end to any new Kobe releases? Well, it was sometime in April that Vanessa Bryant had let the world know that the Nike partnership was over between the families, and the Bryant Estate would move on to making their own clothing line. However, around April 23rd, she shared on her Instagram story that there would be two final Mamba releases. The post shares a picture of feet wearing a mainly white Kobe 6 Proto, with a black swoosh and yellow details . This sneaker actually should have released today, but maybe the word on this release paused anything from happening. Would the second one have been the controversial drop, early? It does not sound like it, from Vanessa’s messaging. A reverse colorway of the sneaker Vanessa previewed had leaked, so it was likely these two sneakers that were scheduled to still release.

In addition the the Bleacher Reports Kicks post which had the Internet going wild, Vanessa Bryant found a picture of someone hold the sneakers in their hand. She wrote an incredibly long message on the image, While Nike appears to be calling the sneaker, “Mamba Forever,” Vanessa states this shoe was in memory of her late daughter GiGI, and wanted to call the style “MAMBACITA.” The black and white colorway represented the jersey that GiGi wore, and of course, the number 2 that appears on the sneakers is the number GiGI wore on court. Vanessa says that these sneakers were not approved for sale, and actually not even approved to be made in the first place. She states that her family has not received any pairs, and hops that no one purchased these for sale.

Allegedly, the initial plan was to have a lifelong partnership with Nike, which Vanessa would have signed, and released these sneakers. Her dream was to sell them in honor of GiGi, having all of the proceeds go to the Mamba Mambacita Sports foundation. However, when the contract fell through, the plans for this sneaker ended.

Not only did Vanessa find these sneakers in someone hands, but an Instagram Page titled @kicksoncourtph shows Bucks player Khris Middleton rocking the sneakers on court, in a game, four days ago. So, it is clear that these sneakers were produced, and people have got their hands on them.

A number of sneaker fans on social have suggested that a UK sneaker store, Foot Patrol may have received a shipment of these pairs early and accidentally let them leave their stores. This has certainly happened in the past, but does not explain how they even got there if Vanessa did not clear them to be produced. It more than likely seems the brand was working with intended launch date in mind, Foot Patrol received their shipments early, and images of early product had been released. None of this is uncommon in the sneaker space, as people go crazy of their sneakers. It is, though, unfortunate to happen in this situation for the Bryant family.

Nike has won plenty of lawsuits and battles, so it will be interesting to see what happens here if Vanessa tries to take any legal action of the matter. One thing is clear, though, she is not feeling this shocking release. Secondly, those shoes are going to be on Stock X for some big time dollar bills. There appears to be a few sizes with listening asks, going for thousands of dollars. The current asking list as followed:

SIZE 8: $1,357

SIZE 8.5: $2,299

SIZE 9: $15,323

SIZE 10: $14,557

SIZE 11: $15,322

SIZE 11.5: $13,791

SIZE 12.5: $9,196

SIZE 13: $3,483