The Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The” Returns in This Week’s Best Footwear Drops

The Florida Gators’ men’s basketball team triumphed over the Houston Cougars in a thrilling match that concluded the March Madness tournament last night. Yet, the excitement in basketball isn’t dwindling as we approach the NBA Playoffs’ commencement, and the Western Conference is especially heated with five teams fighting tooth and nail within half a game of each other, promising an intense season finale. Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled for exciting sneaker releases from Jordan Brand, Nike, New Balance, Vans, UGG, and adidas before the dust settles.

Let’s revisit the eye-catching sneaker headlines from last week, beginning with an abundance of Nike Kobe updates. Jalen Brunson showcased a new Nike Kobe 5 Protro “The Joke’s On You” PE at a home game, while Vanessa Bryant unveiled three previously undiscussed pairs: the Nike Kobe 4 Protro “CHBL,” Nike Kobe 9 EM “Mambacita, ” and a Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Soft Yellow.” Wale also revealed another Nike GT Future design, featuring a “Kryptonate” theme.

Concerning Jordan Brand, J-Hope from BTS was present at the unveiling of the Air Jordan 3 “Seoul 2.0”. This event took place during the exciting matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Additionally, we’ve had a sneak peek at upcoming releases like the Air Jordan 4 “Cave Stone”, the 2021 Air Jordan 1 High OG “Shattered Backboard”, and the brand-new Union LA x fragment design collaboration on the Air Jordan 1 High OG.

In other parts of the footwear industry, New Balance experienced a successful week through partnerships with atmos and BEAMS on their 1000 model, as well as showcasing a new gray colorway for its 2000 ABZORB sneaker. Meanwhile, Crocs debuted its EXP line, revealing the Terre model inspired by ballet shoes. Closing out the week was the collaboration between 18 East and Mephisto, named Break Spectrum.

After going over the significant changes in the sneaker world over the past week, let’s move on to a sneak peek at what releases we can expect in the upcoming seven days. Once you’ve checked out the list, remember to check out HBX for current footwear options that are ready for purchase right now.

Jordan Luka 4 and Luka .77

Launch Date: April 8th
Retail Price: $130 USD or $100 USD (depending on the specific model)
Where to Purchase: Nike
Why You Should Consider Buying: The month of April promises an exciting time for NBA star, Luka Dončić. At 26 years old, he’s set to make his playoff debut with the Los Angeles Lakers (provided they don’t slip in the standings and miss out on the play-in tournament). But that’s not all; April will also see him releasing two new signature shoes! The Jordan Luka 4 carries on his signature line, enhancing it with support to match his power and agility. The Jordan Luka .77, on the other hand, is an outdoor-focused model designed for durability.

Liverpool FC x Nike Air Max 95

Launch Date: April 9th
Launch Price: $160 USD
Where Can I Purchase: Liverpool Football Club
Why You Should Consider Buying: The year 2025 will mark 30 years since the introduction of Nike’s Air Max 95, and to commemorate this milestone, Nike is planning a multitude of collaborations, fresh colorways, and retro designs. One such endeavor involves a Liverpool Football Club-themed version of the sneaker. The shoe’s red accents contrast with its otherwise monotone design, which makes use of the Air Max 95’s layered upper by incorporating a gradient effect. The primary tribute to Liverpool can be found in the Liver Bird logo, which is positioned on the inside of the tongue.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v6 “Avocado” & “Sea Salt”

Launch Date: 10th of April
Launch Price: $200 USD
Where to Purchase: New Balance Store
Why You Might Want to Buy: The New Balance MADE in USA team has recently unveiled a new line of apparel, along with two distinct versions of the 990v6. The first version boasts an “Avocado” colorway, featuring a dark green mesh foundation with various shades of green adorning the complex upper design. Alternatively, there’s another pair that merges “White”, “Sea Salt”, and gray to create a summer-friendly color palette.

COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS x Nike Sense 96

Launch Date: April 10
Launch Price: $230 USD
Where to Purchase: Dover Street Market
Why It’s Worth Buying: Nike has allowed COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS to reintroduce several sneakers ahead of their regular release. The Sense 96 is a new model, featuring the sole unit of the ISPA Sense Flyknit and the upper of an Air Max 96. This shoe comes in three colorways: all-white, all-black, and a pink and white version with CdGH+ branding on the tongue, medial midsole, and insole.

OTW by Vans Old Skool 36 FM

Launch Date: 11th of April
Launch Price: $125 USD
Where can I Purchase?: Vans
Why should you grab it?: The OTW by Vans collection is marking Milan Design Week with the introduction of its new Future Make platform. Their first product under this category is the OTW by Vans Old Skool 36, which modernizes the classic Old Skool design. It features a lofted engineered knit upper and a 3D-injected TPU structural side stripe for a stylish look. The shoe also offers comfort through its Sola Foam ADC insole and EVA Strobel construction.

Reese Cooper x UGG

Launch Date: April 11
Retail Price: Between $200 USD to $250 USD
Where Can You Find Them: Reese Cooper and UGG stores are your destinations.
Why You Might Want to Buy: California-based designers, Reese Cooper and UGG, have collaborated to upgrade the classic UGG’s Mini and Ultra Mini boots for all-terrain performance. Both models boast a CORDURA UltraLite water-resistant outer shell with a GORE-TEX lining, ensuring they are prepared for various weather conditions. The Classic Mini comes in two colors: “Kalamata” brown and plain black. For the Classic Ultra Mini, which stands taller than its ankle boot counterpart, you’ll find color options like “Mandarin Red,” “Peyote,” and “Black.

Air Jordan 3 “Sail/Metallic Silver”

Dropping Date: I’m excited to share that it’s hitting the shelves on April 12th.
Cost at Launch: Get ready to part with $200 USD for this one.
Where Can I Grab a Pair: Head over to SNKRS to cop these fresh kicks.
Why You Don’t Want to Miss Out: This week, Jordan Brand is dropping an exclusive women’s edition of the Air Jordan 3 in a sleek “Sail/Metallic Silver” colorway. The upper is made from off-white leather with subtle “Cement Grey” accents, but

PAN Records x Nike Air 180

Launch Date: April 12
Purchase Price: $150 USD
Where to Find: SNKRS
Why You Should Buy: This year, Nike has given select record stores the opportunity to customize the Air 180. The collaboration started with Apron Records in March and is now continuing with PAN Records. Based in Berlin, PAN Records has designed a black version of the shoe that eliminates the usual Swooshes on each side and replaces them with smaller ones. It also includes a new sculpted heel and features a Pan – the Greek half-goat deity – graphic at the outsole and tissue paper.

Bad Bunny x adidas Ballerina “Off White” & “Core Black”

Launch Date: 12th of April
Launch Price: $120 USD
Where to Purchase: adidas
Why You Might Want to Acquire: Bad Bunny and adidas have recently introduced a fresh take on the Ballerina silhouette, which is essentially an updated version of their Taekwondo model. This innovative design was unveiled at the end of March in a vibrant “Bold Gold” colorway. Now, it’s coming out in the traditional “Off White” and “Core Black” color schemes. The “Off White” pair features white, off-white, gold, gum, and black tones, while the “Core Black” version boasts an all-black finish with white branding details.

Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The”

Launch Date: April 13
Launch Price: $180 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why You Might Want to Buy: Nike Kobe 8s were reimagined in a unique way back in 2013, with the “What The” colorway becoming one of its most memorable designs. After 12 years, this iconic look is making a comeback, featuring a lively blend of blue, purple, and red on the left shoe, contrasted by orange, yellow, and green on the right.

2025-04-08 21:26