Saddle Up: The Kobe 8 ‘Year of the Horse’ Rides Again

served up some stellarcreative colourways for this year’s celebrations, using the occasion to shine a spotlight on the legendary signature line.

But it looks like the Swoosh already have next year in their sights. Digging deep into the vault, they’re bringing back a sneakerhead favourite: the Nike ‘Year of the Horse’. Originally released in 2014 as part of Nike’s Zodiac Series, this fiery colourway arrives dipped in ‘Light Crimson’ with ‘Bright Citron’ hits on the Swoosh and laces. A translucent ‘Vivid Blue’ sole adds a crisp, chilly contrast.

Peek inside the tongue and you’ll spot a subtle nod to its zodiac roots – complete with a hidden horse emblem. And like all Protro drops, this one’s loaded with performance tweaks under the hood, including a React foam upgrade to keep it court-ready.

For its part, the Nike Kobe 8 originally released in 2012, and marked a major design shift for Kobe Bryant’s signature line. Created by Eric Avar and the Nike Basketball team, the Kobe 8 was designed with speed, precision, and low-profile performance in mind.

Of course, the Black Mamba’s extensive archive has made a strong showing on the hardwood this post-season – most notably worn by New York Knicks cult hero Jalen Brunson, who recently lit up the court in the Kobe 5 Protro ‘The Joke’s On You’ PE.

While no release dates are currently locked in, expect the Nike Kobe 8 Protro ‘Year of the Horse’ to gallop into stores between January and March – aligning with Lunar New Year celebrations.

For more on adidas hoops, make sure to all the latest on Anthony Edward's sophomore signature, the AE 2.