Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Christmas” IQ5338-400

It’s impossible to evaluate the modern legacy of Kobe Bryant’s Protro products without beginning with the Kobe 6 “Grinch,” a Christmas-themed edition that’s since far surpassed the usual performance of holiday-centric fare. The more subdued yet still substantial success of the “Reverse Grinch” further stamped Yuletide as a defining season for the line — could the Bryant estate and Nike be onto another smash with the Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Christmas?”

Originally leaked back in February of this year, the tangible product far surpasses the simplistic fare that we expected via mock-up images. Surfacing well in advance of its expected Holiday release, the shoe places standard Christmas red and green off to the side, instead embracing more of a “Winter Wonderland” concept. The exterior diamond-shaped TPU cage goes translucent, shifting from pure blue towards the toe. Even with that design choice and additional showstoppers like a silver reflective badge on the tongue, the toe may still be the centerpiece, utilizing the Sheath logo to evoke crackling ice surfaces.

The Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Christmas” remains on track to debut this Holiday season, likely commanding the same $210 sticker price that the “Halo” will. Catch the full suite of official images included below.

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.