The Nike Kobe 6 'Mambacita Sweet 16' Is Releasing
News on this release was first published June 6, 2021
Update (March 25, 2022): As part of Vanessa Bryant and Nike's announcement that the partnership between Kobe Bryant's estate and Nike, Inc. would be , the Nike Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16' will now see a retail release. Though a date of arrival has yet to be announced, Gianna Bryant would have turned 16 on May 1 – so the special sneaker may be dropping then. Read the original story below, and keep it locked to SF for more updates as they're made available.
Following the from Vanessa Bryant, portals such as StockX, GOAT, and eBay have removed listings of the controversial, unreleased Protro ‘Mambacita’.
With the late Kobe Bryant’s with the Swoosh , Vanessa had expressed frustration at the fact that the sneakers had found their way to stores and leakers, suggesting that they were not approved to be released.
According to , 51 pairs of the colourway had been sold on StockX since May 14, with prices spiking immediately after Vanessa's social media post. Before being removed, there were 26 pairs listed in sizes 8-13, ranging in price from $7,500 to $15,000. Some pairs were listed for as much as $141,274 and $100,000.
Meanwhile, GOAT does not have any listings of the shoes, and is restricting users from creating new ones, while eBay have also made moves to remove new listings.
The Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita’ had not released at any store or received any official information from Nike. However, photos were shared by a leaker who had poached shots from UK-based retailer Foot Patrol (how the leaker managed this is unclear). Photos of the shoe were never shared by Foot Patrol or Nike in the lead-up to Vanessa’s statement.
With a scheme matching daughter Gigi’s Mamba Academy uniforms, the sneaker also features jersey numbers of both father and daughter, with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation logo at the heel. According to the statement (pictured above), Vanessa picked out the colourway and design of the shoe, and had decided all proceeds from it would go towards the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation had it released.
To protect the interests of the Bryant family and estate, Sneaker Freaker chose to not report on any previous leaks regarding the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita’.