Nike held the third annual Mamba League last month, gathering youth basketball players in Los Angeles for a two-day tournament. And now that a little time has passed, an exclusive pair of Nike Kobe sneakers made for the tournament has been revealed.
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Mamba League follows the lead of the Year of the Snake edition and was only made for players at the tournament. It’s rendered almost entirely in orange through the upper and sole unit, and a green snake wraps around the lateral Swoosh and eyestay. Electric green is then used for the tongue’s Kobe logo and mustache signature, as well as the words “2025 Mamba Invitational” spelled out across the two inner tongues. Additional branding for the tournament appears on the insole.
This ultra-exclusive edition marks the fourth Kobe 5 Protro seen this year with snake ornamentation. Red and Eggplant colorways dropped early in 2025 for the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac, and Jalen Brunson also wore a blacked-out pair at the NBA All-Star Game that hasn’t been released.
Away from the snake theme, the Kobe 5 also served as the first sneaker to release for Caitlin Clark, bearing the colors of her Indiana Fever. Next spring, Clark will get another release with the Kobe 5 Protro Rookie of the Year in silver and red.
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Mamba League won’t release to the public, and your only chance of purchasing is looking out for a pair to end up on the resale market from one of the players for a significant fee.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro Mamba League (lateral)
Nike Kobe 5 Protro Mamba League (lateral)
Nike Kobe 5 Protro Mamba League (heel)