Is the Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' Worth It in 2026?

Is the Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' worth it in 2026? If you want the most collectible Kobe 8 of the modern Protro era, an asymmetric pair that fuses colourways from across the model's history into one shoe, then yes. It is the Kobe 8 that photographs best and the one people remember. Shop the Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' in your size, with every pair authenticated by hand.

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The Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' at a glance

• Model: Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The'
• Released: 13 April 2025
• Style code: HM9621-900
• Colourway: Multi-Color, an asymmetric mash-up (left foot blue and purple; right foot red, orange and green)
• Cushioning: React drop-in midsole under a low-profile upper
• Fit: true to size for most; go up half a size if you like room

Shoe	Built for	The look
Kobe 8 Protro 'What The'	Kobe collectors and quick guards who want court feel	Close to thirty past colourways split across two mismatched feet
Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' GS	Smaller sizes	The same asymmetric mash-up in Grade School sizing
Single-colour Kobe 8 Protro	Everyday hooping	The same traction and fit in a quieter finish

What is the Kobe 8 Protro 'What The'?

"What The" is Nike's long-running nickname for its wildest mash-up sneakers: pairs that cram the highlights of a silhouette's back catalogue onto a single, deliberately mismatched shoe. For the Kobe 8 Protro, that means drawing on close to thirty colourways from the model's history and splitting them across two asymmetric feet, cool blues and purples on the left, fiery reds, oranges and greens on the right. No two panels quite agree, and that's the point. It landed on 13 April 2025 under style code HM9621-900 and instantly became the most talked-about Kobe 8 of the Protro run.

The Kobe 8 is one of the most beloved silhouettes in Kobe Bryant's line, a low-cut, second-skin shoe first released in 2013 and revived as a Protro in recent years. The 'What The' is the celebratory, collector-facing chapter of that revival: less a single design than a scrapbook of the model's greatest hits.

How does it perform?

Underneath the noise, this is still a Kobe 8, and reviewers are consistent on where it lands. The traction is the standout: grippy, aggressive and confident on a clean court. The low-profile build and locked-in fit give the quick, close-to-the-ground feel guards love. The trade-off is the cushioning. The modern Protro uses a React drop-in midsole rather than the Zoom Air setup of the original 2013 shoe, so it's stable and springy but less plush than purists remember. On outdoor concrete the soft rubber wears faster than a dedicated outdoor shoe. On fit, Kobe Protros fit true to size, so most players are safe taking their usual size.

In short, it plays genuinely well for quicker guards who want court feel over cushioning. But the reason most people reach for the 'What The' is the look and the collectability, not the box score.

Why collectors want it

Kobe releases carry the weight of a retired line with no more restocks, and they hold demand like almost no other basketball shoe. The 'What The' is the loudest, most conversation-starting pair in the current Protro line, and the one that keeps its pull in a rotation of hyped sneakers long after release day. For smaller feet there is also a GS (Grade School) version carrying the same mash-up, so the whole family can get in on it.

How to wear it

In our view the rule is simple: let the shoes be the loudest thing you're wearing. A black or charcoal tonal fit, or plain washed denim and a white tee, gives the mismatched panels room to talk. If you want the outfit to answer back, pull one colour from a single foot, a purple cap or an orange tee, rather than trying to match both sides. The low-cut shape sits cleanly under cropped or tapered trousers and looks best with the ankle showing.

Who should buy it: the verdict

Buy the 'What The' if you're a Kobe collector, if you want the pair in the Protro line with the most story in it, or if you rotate hyped sneakers and want one that holds interest. The design is a genuine piece of Nike lore, the traction and court feel are real, and the cultural weight of the Kobe name does the rest. If you're purely after an everyday hooping shoe, a single-colour Kobe 8 Protro gives you the same traction and fit in a quieter look. See the rest of the line in our guide to the best Nike Kobe Protros to buy in 2026. Either way, buying from a platform that checks every pair matters more on a shoe this replicated: read where to buy authentic sneakers online in Australia, or browse the wider Nike range and the Trending edit for what else is hot.

Shop the Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' at PUSHAS, authenticated by hand, with global shipping from Sydney & Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' release?

It released on 13 April 2025 under style code HM9621-900, through Nike SNKRS and select retailers.

What does "What The" mean on the Kobe 8?

It's Nike's name for a mash-up design that combines colourways from across a silhouette's history onto one pair. The Kobe 8 version draws on close to thirty past makeups and splits them asymmetrically: blues and purples on the left foot, reds, oranges and greens on the right.

Is the Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' good for playing basketball?

Yes. Traction and court feel are its strengths, thanks to a low-profile build and grippy outsole. It uses a React drop-in midsole, so cushioning is stable rather than plush, and the soft rubber wears faster outdoors.

Does the Kobe 8 Protro 'What The' fit true to size?

Yes. Kobe Protros fit true to size, so most people take their usual size. If you like a little more room in a low-cut, second-skin shoe, go up half a size.

How do you style the Kobe 8 Protro 'What The'?

Let the shoes lead. A black or charcoal tonal fit, or washed denim and a white tee, gives the mismatched panels room. To tie the outfit in, pick one colour from a single foot rather than matching both.

Are PUSHAS sneakers authentic?

Yes. Every pair is authenticated by hand before it ships, so you can shop with confidence, with global delivery from Sydney and Los Angeles.