Black and Blue Bloodlines: Duke Debut Deadly Kobe 5 Protro PE

Nike just issued another weapon to the Blue Devils: the Kobe 5 Protro ‘Duke’ Women’s Basketball PE, a cold-blooded reminder that the Mamba legacy is still alive and biting through the college ranks.

The Kobe 5 Protro ‘Duke’ PE arrives dipped in black and blue, proof that the Mamba spirit still prowls the hardwood at Durham. No gimmicks, no gradients – just ruthless restraint. A slashing Swoosh cuts through each panel, while Protro tech underneath keeps it lethal – updated cushioning, sharper responsiveness, all calibrated for blow-by buckets.

For years, the Blue Devils have been one of Nike’s favoured testing grounds, blessed with some of the rarest PEs across the LeBron, Kyrie and Kobe lines. From Kyrie Irving’s homecoming pairs to LeBron 20s dipped in Durham blue, Duke’s locker room has long doubled as a secret showspace.

For its part, the Kobe 5 has always been a metamorphosis moment in the Mamba line. Sleeker, sharper and lower than its predecessors, it abandoned bulk for pure speed, building on Kobe’s obsession with mobility and footwork. The Protro revival brought modern cushioning and stability to that frame, but its soul stayed the same: fast, unforgiving, and built for killers who create space in split-seconds. At a time when women’s basketball is commanding national attention, gifting Duke this silhouette feels like Nike passing down a blade, not a shoe.

It goes without saying – you won’t see these on SNKRS. Instead, you’ll see them stomping through Cameron Indoor, worn by hoopers who carry pressure like a big ol’ pile of biology homework. You can still try getting a pair, but unless you’re on Kara Lawson’s rotation, you’ll be watching from the bleachers.

For more on Mamba-inspired PEs, make sure to slither over to the Oregon Ducks Kobe 6 cleats.