Nike Kobe 9 EM Low Protro 'Light Silver Steam': The Quiet Kobe 9

The Nike Kobe 9 EM Low Protro 'Light Silver Steam' (style code IH1401-003) is a low-cut, engineered mesh take on the Kobe 9, updated with Nike React foam. It released on 13 April 2026 in Light Silver, Summit White and Steam, and it is a deliberately quiet Kobe 9: a pale, clean pair built for players who want the shoe to disappear under their game.

The Nike Kobe 9 EM Low Protro 'Light Silver Steam' is live now in the Nike Kobe range at PUSHAS, and every pair is authenticated by hand.

A Kobe that lets the game talk

Plenty of Kobe releases lean on story, colour and loud detail. This one goes the other way. Sneaker News framed 'Steam' as an understated option in a busy year for the Kobe 9, a shoe for hoopers who prefer to let their game do the talking. The palette is almost monochrome: a Light Silver upper, a Summit White outsole, and a soft sage green called Steam used sparingly at the points where the shoe does its work.

That restraint is the point. On a court or on the street, the shoe reads as a clean grey-white low with a hint of mint, and only a closer look shows how carefully the accent colour has been placed.

Design details of the 'Light Silver Steam'

The base is Light Silver engineered mesh, the material that gives the EM its name. It is breathable and light, and it keeps the low profile of the shoe feeling minimal rather than armoured.

Steam appears in three places. It runs across the heel, it lines the inside of the shoe and sockliner, and it colours the Flywire cables that wrap up from the midsole into the lacing. Those cables are the structural heart of the upper: pulling the laces tight draws them in and locks the midfoot down, so highlighting them in green quietly shows how the shoe holds the foot.

Underfoot, a Summit White outsole keeps the whole pair light in tone from top to bottom. The overall effect is tonal and cool, with the Steam hits doing just enough to stop it from looking plain.

From the 2014 Kobe 9 to the EM Low

The original Kobe 9 launched in 2014, designed by Eric Avar with Kobe Bryant. Its headline version, the Kobe 9 Elite, was a high-top, a change of direction after the low-cut Kobe 4. The high collar came out of Kobe's interest in boxing and the way boxers train, and the Elite was the first Nike Basketball shoe to use Flyknit, paired with Flywire.

The shoe also carried the story of Kobe's return from a torn Achilles, suffered during the 2012-13 season. Nike still frames the Kobe 9 around that comeback, and its description of this EM Low opens with it: a recovery that inspired generations of hoopers to keep fighting.

A low-cut Kobe 9 followed the Elite, offered in Flyknit and in engineered mesh. That engineered mesh low is the direct ancestor of this pair. EM simply stands for engineered mesh, and it marks the version of the Kobe 9 that swaps knit for a breathable mesh upper while keeping the Flywire lacing system.

What Protro means here

Protro is Nike's shorthand for performance retro: a returning shoe that keeps the original look but takes on current performance technology. For the Kobe 9, the key change is underfoot. The original Kobe 9 used Lunarlon foam, and the Protro replaces it with Nike React, which Nike describes as soft and responsive while keeping the foot connected to the court.

In practical terms, the EM Low Protro keeps the look of the original engineered mesh low while moving the cushioning to a modern foam.

How it fits and wears

Sizing reports specific to the EM Low Protro are still limited, and the reports that exist for the wider Kobe 9 Protro family do not agree. If you have wider feet or sit between sizes, check the size guide below before choosing. On foot, the engineered mesh keeps the shoe light and airy, and the Flywire lacing does the job of holding you in place, so it pays to lace it properly rather than leave it loose.

How to style it

A pale, tonal low like this is easy to wear off court. Pair it with grey or stone trousers and a white tee to lean into the tonal look, or pick up the Steam accent with a sage or olive layer. Light-wash denim and a crisp white sock keep the shoe clean and bright. For the court, it suits a neutral kit, where the soft green at the heel and cables becomes the one detail that stands out.

Who it is built for

If you want	Built for	Wear it with
A quiet, clean Kobe	Players who prefer understated shoes	A neutral grey or white kit
A light, breathable low	Players who run hot on court	Shorts and crew socks on court
A tonal everyday sneaker	Collectors of the Kobe 9 line	Stone trousers and a sage layer

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 4 October 2026. 23 US men's sizes are live, from US M 3.5 to US M 15. Every pair is authenticated by hand, so you can shop with confidence. The live listing shows the current price. Find it here: Nike Kobe 9 EM Low Protro 'Light Silver Steam'.

Before you choose a size, read the complete Nike Kobe size guide, or browse more of the Nike range at PUSHAS.

FAQ

When did the Nike Kobe 9 EM Low Protro 'Light Silver Steam' release?

It released on 13 April 2026 under style code IH1401-003, in Light Silver, Summit White and Steam.

What does EM mean on the Nike Kobe 9?

EM stands for engineered mesh. It marks the version of the Kobe 9 with a breathable engineered mesh upper instead of Flyknit, keeping the Flywire lacing.

What does Protro mean for Nike Kobe shoes?

Protro means performance retro. The Kobe 9 Protro keeps the original look but replaces the original Lunarlon foam with Nike React.

Does the Kobe 9 EM Low Protro fit true to size?

Sizing reports specific to the EM Low Protro are still limited, and reports for the wider Kobe 9 Protro family do not agree. If you have wider feet or sit between sizes, check the Nike Kobe size guide before choosing.

Where is the Steam colour on this Kobe 9?

The sage green Steam colour appears on the heel, the inner lining and sockliner, and the Flywire cables, set against a Light Silver engineered mesh upper and a Summit White outsole.