All products are independently tested by the teams of Reliable Sporting. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. Why trust us?
With some protro updates, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch is a flipped rendition of an iconic colorway of one of the greatest basketball shoes ever made.
Many people agree that the Nike Kobe 6 is among the greatest performance basketball shoes ever produced. Possibly the most recognizable Kobe 6 colorway is the Grinch version of the shoe.
In a flipped icon form, this sports all the performance benefits of a Kobe 6 along with some major Protro updates. What more could you possibly want? Perhaps to be able to truly obtain a pair? Sadly, let’s get right into the review.
| Overall Score: 9.5/10 |
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Traction:
Excellent traction is available on both the Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch and any other Kobe 6. It is important to remember that breaking in requires time. With its snake scale traction pattern etched on it, the sole’s construction combines translucent and solid rubber to provide excellent multidirectional coverage.
This is one of the best Kobes ever in terms of traction, and of almost any hoop shoe in general, once the traction is properly broken in.
Although we highly doubt that anyone on the planet would wear a pair of Kobe 6s outside, you will quickly wear out the traction if you do. Since the traction pattern is very shallow and the translucent rubber is softer than usual, it is best to hoop indoors if you intend to do so (which you really should).
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Cushion:
This Kobe 6 version includes some significant updates, all of which are related to the shoe’s cushioning, as any good protro should. A Phylon midsole, a large volume Zoom Air unit in the heel, and a small circular Zoom unit beneath the ball of the foot were all features of the original Kobe 6. Although the first setup was excellent, the current setup is even better.
Nike replaced Phylon with Cushion, took out the Zoom Air unit in the heel, and added a Zoom Turbo unit that covers most of the forefoot. This combination of cushioning technology provides adequate impact protection to keep your legs fresh while still enabling a nice, responsive play on the court.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Material:
In terms of performance, the materials used on the Kobe 6 remain highly innovative even in 2023, as they did in 2010. The upper of the shoe is made by sandwiching an outer shell of micro mesh over a very thin layer of Skin Fuse, which was first seen on the Kobe 5. Because of how thin and light this setup is, there may have been problems with containment and durability.
Nike made the decision to cover the shoe in the now-iconic polyurethane scales in order to stop this. Like the mud splatter print on the Jordan Zion 3, these scales give the shoe more structure and containment.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Support:
Surprisingly good containment and support are found on such a basic basketball shoe. The Kobe 6 has a prominent TPU heel counter, a carbon fiber shank plate, and an extremely wide and stable outsole. An excellent insole that adapts to your foot as you wear the Kobe 6 is also included. Kobe received exactly what he wanted in terms of a shoe that molded to his foot.
All of this, along with the upper’s construction, results in an extremely safe ride on the court. When you cut and change directions on the court, the shoe conforms exactly to your foot and its supportive features keep you firmly secured.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Fit:
The Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch offers a pleasantly snug 1 to 1 fit and fits true to size. As previously mentioned, the Kobe 6 fits your foot extremely well, and the more you play with them, the better the fit becomes. Choose your typical Nike size if you are fortunate enough to find a pair or decide to purchase a pair for resale.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro Reverse Grinch Verdict:
One of the greatest performance basketball shoes ever made is the Nike Kobe 6, and the updated Protro model just might be slightly better. Nike has previously released “protros” that fell short of expectations and provided scant or nonexistent performance updates. This model improves upon an already nearly perfect shoe, something that Kobe, the man who actually invented the term, would be proud of.
Though it may not be as well-known as the classic Grinch colorway, the colorway is still sleek and vibrant. Though there’s very little chance of actually getting a pair, if you’re one of the fortunate few to receive a pair, you’ll be getting a really great basketball shoe. Do yourself a favor and play in them if you’re fortunate enough to obtain them.
