Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona Reunite for a New Protro Chapter

Nike, Kobe Bryant and FC Barcelona are bringing basketball and football together again—but the strongest part of this release is not simply the color combination.

The 2026 chapter carries the shared mindset behind Kobe and Barça from the pitch to the Kobe 3 Low Protro x FC Barcelona “Black and Electric Purple.” The performance model carries the collection’s black, purple and metallic-gold language, connecting Barcelona’s 2026–27 away identity with Kobe’s competitive legacy.

The Kobe 3 Low Protro leads the story

The confirmed U.S. release arrives September 4 for $190, with style code IO6257-001. For California users, Nike SNKRS lists availability at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Nike’s web data may display the equivalent time as 2:00 p.m. UTC.

Electric Purple fades across the upper and outsole, while black gives the shoe its foundation. Metallic Gold accents reference the pursuit of trophies. The FC Barcelona crest appears on the dubraes and crosses the Kobe Sheath on the left tongue, making the club connection part of the shoe rather than a small finishing detail.

A real Protro, not just a new colorway

Underneath, this is a genuine Protro rather than a simple recreation of the 2007 Kobe 3. Nike equips the low-cut version with a full-length Air Zoom Strobel and Cushlon 3.0 foam.

That combination is intended to deliver the energy return and responsiveness expected from a modern basketball shoe while preserving the original model's visual identity. It captures the purpose of Kobe's Protro idea: keep the history, then improve how the shoe performs today.

The Dunk takes the partnership off court

Nike has also confirmed an exclusive FC Barcelona expression of the Dunk Low within the wider 2026 collection. The lifestyle model extends the away kit's black, purple and gold language beyond basketball.

There is an important distinction for U.S. buyers: Nike's U.S. SNKRS page clearly confirms the Kobe 3 Low Protro, but the Dunk does not currently have the same clearly confirmed U.S. launch listing. Its domestic release method, timing and price should remain treated as unresolved until Nike publishes them directly.

Why Kobe and Barcelona belong together

Kobe's connection to FC Barcelona existed long before the footwear collections. Nike describes the partnership as an extension of his lifelong love for football and admiration for Barça's joyful style of play and philosophy.

The 2026–27 away collection marks the second consecutive season combining the Kobe Sheath and Barcelona crest. The kit uses a black-mamba texture, Field Purple base, gold accents and an iridescent crest. Inside the collar sits one of Kobe's enduring messages: “Leave the game better than you found it.”

Those ideas—discipline, ambition and legacy—give the sneakers their reason to exist.

The Shervarino take

The Kobe 3 is the centerpiece because it connects the collaboration to an actual performance model and gives players a meaningful technology upgrade. The purple fade, gold detailing and Barcelona crest make the story visible without overwhelming the original design.

The Dunk may ultimately be the more unusual experiment, but its U.S. availability still needs clarification. For now, the confirmed play is the Kobe 3 Low Protro through Nike SNKRS.

Every sneaker has a story. This one connects basketball and football through the standard Kobe and Barcelona expected from themselves.