Nike Basketball and Kobe Bryant’s estate are adding another installment to their “Mambacita” series honoring the late Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.

Arriving on Gigi’s 19th birthday, the “Mambacita” Kobe 9 EM Protro is dressed in a black, white, and gold color scheme, inspired by her Team Mamba girls youth basketball uniform. The EM (engineered mesh) upper features a gradient design that transitions from white at the toe to black at the heel, paired with a black-and-white marbled sole. Metallic gold accents round out the design, appearing on the Swooshes, Kobe Sheath logos on tongues, “GiGi” branding on the left heel, and her jersey number 2 on the right heel.

This release marks the fourth annual entry in the Nike Kobe “Mambacita” series, which kicked off in 2022 with the “Mambacita Sweet 16” Kobe 6 Protro. It was followed by the “Mambacita” Kobe 4 Protro in 2023 and the “Mambacita” Kobe 8 Protro in 2024.

The Nike Kobe 9 EM Protro “Mambacita” drops May 1st on SNKRS and at select retailers in men’s and grade school sizing. Grab a first look below and stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for updates.

Nike Kobe 9 EM Protro “Mambacita”
Color: Black/Metallic Gold-Black
Style Code: FZ7333-001
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Price: $180 USD