Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Coals’ Brings a Sinister Spin to the Mamba Line

Nike’s rampant rollout of Kobe retros isn’t letting up. The latest rumoured addition to the Mamba archive is the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Coals’ – a dark holiday-themed colourway scheduled to land later in 2026.

Long regarded as one of the greatest performance basketball shoes ever created, the Kobe 6 first debuted in 2010 and quickly earned legendary status thanks to its low-cut build, aggressive traction and the instantly recognisable ‘Black Mamba’ upper. The design’s textured polyurethane scales were inspired by Bryant’s serpentine persona, giving the shoe a distinctive look that still holds up today.

According to early reports, the upcoming Protro edition will arrive in a striking ‘Black/Venom Green/Purple Venom’ colour scheme. While official imagery has yet to surface, early mockups suggest a stealthy black upper paired with vibrant gradient Swoosh detailing that fades from deep purple into bright 'Venom Green'.

The ‘Coals’ nickname reportedly references the classic holiday tale of naughty kids receiving coal in their stockings – a darker festive twist that naturally invites comparisons to the iconic Kobe 6 ‘Grinch’, one of the most beloved Christmas sneakers ever released.

Like other Protro releases, the sneaker is expected to retain the original Kobe 6 silhouette while incorporating modern performance updates to keep the design viable for today’s game.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Coals’ is currently tipped to release during Holiday 2026, likely sometime between October and December, with a retail price set at $190.

For more on Kobe’s ever-expanding sneaker catalogue, check out our full list of every model confirmed for 2026.