Mamba Invitational Sneakers: Kobe Heat Takes Over LA
For one weekend… Los Angeles became a stage for Kobe sneakers.
The Mamba Invitational has increasingly doubled as both a proving ground for elite young basketball talent and a window into the future of Kobe footwear. The 2025 event notably gave an early stage to the Kobe 3 Protro Low, and 2026 pushed that relationship much further. Held at LA LIVE, this year’s tournament brought together leading high-school players for boys’ and girls’ competition while celebrating Kobe Bryant’s legacy.
Between games, the Mamba Invitational Sneakers became their own storyline. Upcoming releases, player exclusives and fresh Protro models appeared across the court, turning the tournament into an unofficial preview of where the Kobe line is heading next.
Kobe 10 Protro Mamba Invitational PE Brings the Heat
The Kobe 10 Protro received one of its loudest intros yet through an Invitational-exclusive PE.
Its upper burns through mustard yellow, orange and red, contrasted by stitched black Swooshes. “2026” and “MM” tags reference the event and Mamba Mentality, while Nike LA branding lands on the heel and dedicated Mamba Invitational graphics appear on the insoles. Underfoot, the modernized Kobe 10 swaps the original cushioning package for Cushlon 3.0 and full-length Zoom Strobel.
This particular colorway was made exclusively for event participants, so there’s currently no public release planned.
Kobe 10 PE Paints the Court Purple and Crimson
The Kobe 10 also surfaced in a second PE, this time dressed in a rich red-to-purple gradient.
The ombré upper flows between crimson and deep purple while crisp white branding slices through the color. Created specifically for wear during the Invitational, the pair isn’t currently expected to receive a retail release.
Think of it as a postcard from the event rather than a future checkout-page battle.
Kobe 3 Low Protro “Grinch” Goes Electric
Few Kobe color stories carry the voltage of “Grinch,” and the Kobe 3 Low Protro now enters similar territory.
The upcoming pair covers its sculpted upper and TPU containment structure in electric neon green, with aquamarine details around the heel, midsole gradient, and tongue branding. Five-star guard Beckham Black wore the shoe during the Invitational, giving the colorway an early on-court showcase.
The Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro “Electric Green,” commonly nicknamed “Grinch,” is expected to release in September 2026 for $190.
Kobe 3 Low Protro “Black” Moves in the Shadows
At the opposite end of the palette sat the Kobe 3 Low Protro “Black.”
Rather than chasing bright tournament colors, this version keeps almost everything submerged in jet black, leaving a Metallic Cool Grey/Silver Swoosh near the heel to catch the light. The monochrome treatment works especially well with the Kobe 3 Low’s web-like molded structure, allowing texture to do the talking.
The pair is scheduled for November 2026, with adult retail set at $190.
Kobe 3 Protro “Orca” Swims Back Into View
The “Orca” brought history into a weekend otherwise packed with previews.
Based on the original Kobe 3 colorway, the Protro returns with its iconic diamond-cut construction wrapped predominantly in black, broken up by contrasting Swoosh details and gold accents through the center. Kobe wore the Kobe 3 during his 2007-08 MVP season and run to the 2008 NBA Finals, giving this return considerably more historical weight than a standard retro colorway.
The Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Orca” is currently listed to release on September 26, 2026, for $210.
Release Info
Model Name: Nike Kobe 10 Protro “Mamba Invitational” PE
Release Date: No public release
Retail Price: N/A
SKU: N/A
Colorway: Yellow/Orange/Red/Black
Availability: Player exclusive; made for 2026 Mamba Invitational participants
Model Name: Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro “Grinch” (Electric Green)
Release Date: September 2026
Retail Price: $190
SKU: IV7127-300
Colorway: Electric Green/Aquamarine
Availability: Expected public release; exact date and retailer list TBC
Model Name: Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro “Black”
Release Date: November 2026
Retail Price: $190
SKU: IV7127-002
Colorway: Black/Metallic Cool Grey
Availability: Public release; adult and grade-school sizing, with Nike SNKRS currently listed for the US launch
Model Name: Nike Kobe 10 Protro “Crimson/Purple” PE
Release Date: No public release
Retail Price: N/A
SKU: N/A
Colorway: Crimson/Purple gradient
Availability: Player exclusive; not expected to release publicly
Model Name: Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Orca”
Release Date: September 26, 2026
Retail Price: $210
SKU: IQ5340-001
Colorway: Black/White/Gold
Availability: Public release; Nike SNKRS is currently listed for the US launch
Release plans are split between pairs sneakerheads will actually be able to chase and those staying behind the Mamba Invitational curtain. The Kobe 3 Low Protro “Electric Green” is expected in September 2026 for $190, while the stealthy “Black” edition follows in November at the same price. The Kobe 3 Protro “Orca” is currently set for September 26 at $210.The retail pairs are expected to be available through Nike SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retailers, although exact availability may vary by colorway and region.
Meanwhile, both Kobe 10 Protro Mamba Invitational PEs were created for the event and have no public release planned, making them true souvenirs of the 2026 tournament rather than upcoming retail drops.
Not every pair spotted at the Mamba Invitational is destined for the same path… some may stay exclusive to the court, while others could eventually give the public a shot.
For any pairs that do receive a wider release, having your TSB setup ready can help you prepare before the opportunity pops up. With 1M+ items secured and $50M+ in profit generated by members, TSB has helped resellers land countless successful cops and profitable flips, including previous Kobe and limited Nike releases, while tracking retailer drops, raffles, restocks, and early signals in real time so you don’t miss your shot.
Resale Outlook
With several of the Mamba Invitational sneakers still unreleased, and the Kobe 10 PEs not scheduled for retail at all, there isn’t enough verified StockX sales history to put a meaningful resale value on the full lineup yet. Recent Kobe 3 releases give us a much cleaner benchmark.
Comparable Kobe 3 releases have occasionally traded at a loss, but peak resale ROI has reached approximately +162% for the Mambacita, +353% for the Pink Quartz, and +111% for the Christmas.
Based on comparable Kobe releases, the Kobe 3 Low Protro “Grinch” leads the upcoming drops with a projected ROI of +20% to +70%, followed by the Kobe 3 Low Protro “Black” and Kobe 3 Protro “Orca” at around 0% to +40%.
Recent Kobe 3 releases show a market that can vary heavily by colorway, size, scarcity, and storytelling. The “Grinch” connection could give the Electric Green pair stronger collector pull, while the returning “Orca” carries nostalgia from Kobe’s original Kobe 3 era. The Invitational-only Kobe 10 PEs are a different proposition entirely: without a retail release or established transaction history, assigning them a reliable resale value would be speculation.
If you’re keeping an eye on the resale market, check out our guide on the Best Sneakers to Resell for more insights.
A Glimpse of Kobe’s Next Chapter
The 2026 Mamba Invitational sneakers told several stories at once: the Kobe 3 looking backward through the returning “Orca,” the Kobe 3 Low pushing into fresh territory through Electric Green and Black, and the Kobe 10 Protro arriving with tournament-exclusive color experiments.
The games belonged to basketball’s next generation. The footwear surrounding them made sure Kobe’s design legacy kept moving with it.
If you’re trying to secure these Mamba gems before the final buzzer, make sure your TSB key is ready.