Caitlin Clark is Making NCAA History in Retro Kobe Shoes
March Madness is always exciting, but this year's NCAA Tournament has been nothing short of spectacular. While the men's and women's games have been must-see television, one star is shining the brightest during the best month of the college basketball season.
Iowa Hawkeyes point guard Caitlin Clark has steamrolled the competition. Not only has the unanimous First-Team All-American been instrumental in her team's success, but she embodies a new generation of players with his deep three-pointers and flair for the dramatics.
Clark has carved her name into the history books while wearing the shoes from the late-great Kobe Bryant's signature sneaker line. Iowa is a Nike-sponsored school, and the 21-year-old has opted to wear shoes once worn by the Los Angeles Lakers legend.
Throughout her junior season, Clark has primarily worn the fifth and sixth installments of the Nike Kobe line. However, it is her gold and black shoes that are drawing the attention of many new sneakerheads. Below is what fans must know about the retro hoop shoes.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro
Caitlin Clark reacts to a play.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Clark has worn the Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the 'Bruce Lee' colorway during her epic NCAA Tournament run. The shoes were released in limited quantities in November 2020 for $180. According to StockX, the average resale price is now $536.
Of course, the Nike Kobe 5 Protro is just the retro version of Bryant's fifth signature shoe with modest tech upgrades. Bryant wore the Nike Kobe 5 during the 2008-09 NBA season en route to winning his fourth championship. Following his retirement, Nike launched the Protro (performance + retro) line to bring back many fan favorites.
Bryant was not only a student of the game but also studied all the greats across every sport. The 'Bruce Lee' colorway is inspired by the classic films Game of Death and Enter the Dragon.
The black and gold upper pays homage to Lee's iconic jumpsuit, while the red scratch marks on the lateral side are a nod to one of his most memorable final fight sequences.
Clark has made March Madness history in her own right, but it is always cool to see a younger player pay tribute to one of the greatest hoopers ever. Bryant is still sorely missed, but his influence is still felt to this day on basketball courts all over the world.
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