Ice Cold: The Kobe 9 EM Protro Lands in ‘Hydrogen Blue’

Nike’s colossal Kobe rollout keeps gathering momentum, and the next Protro revival taps into a crisp, court-ready palette with the Kobe 9 EM Protro ‘Hydrogen Blue’. Dressed in a sharp mix of ‘Hydrogen Blue’, ‘Light Photo Blue’ and white, this pair feels purpose-built for the hardwood – understated, icy, and unmistakably performance-driven.

The EM (Engineered Mesh) construction returns as a more breathable, game-ready alternative to the Flyknit version, favouring airflow and flexibility without sacrificing structure. In Protro form, the tooling has been modernised with a React drop-in midsole, delivering a more responsive, durable ride while preserving the low-to-the-ground court feel that made the Kobe 9 such a weapon in its original run.

Visually, the ‘Hydrogen Blue’ colourway keeps things clean and classic. Subtle branding, layered blue tones and a white midsole give the shoe a timeless, team-friendly look that works just as well in rotation as it does on the shelf.

Originally released in 2014, the Kobe 9 represented a turning point in the signature line, pushing low-profile performance and precision movement to the forefront. Designed around the on-court mindset of Kobe Bryant, the silhouette emphasised speed, court feel and responsiveness over bulk.

Look for the Kobe 9 ‘Hydrogen Blue’ to hit shelves over the coming months.

For more Mamba heat, dive into this tribute to Kobe’s iconic 81-point performance.