A first look at the Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro "Grinch" has surfaced, and it's set to release this fall for $190. This marks the first time the iconic colorway has appeared on this particular Kobe model.
European retailer Basket4Ballers shared the earliest photos of the pair. Electric green floods the toe, base layer, and molded side cage, giving the shoe an unmistakable neon look. Aquamarine takes over the heel, along with matching branding on the tongue.
Red laces complete the look, tying the pair directly back to the original "Grinch" colorway. The midsole also fades from green into teal, adding another layer of detail to an already loud design.
The Kobe 3 Low Protro has already had a busy 2026, with releases like "Mambacita" and "Mamba Magic" building steady momentum throughout the year. Slotting "Grinch" into that lineup only adds to what's shaping up as one of the model's strongest years yet.
An exact release date hasn't been confirmed yet, but Fall 2026 timing lines up with Nike's usual approach to Christmas-themed Kobe drops. Given how popular past "Grinch" releases have been, expect this one to move fast once it's live.
Nike Kobe 3 Low Protro “Grinch”
The "Grinch" name traces back to a specific moment in 2010. Kobe Bryant debuted the original green and red Kobe 6 during an NBA Christmas Day game, and the look stuck ever since.
Despite that history, Nike has kept the colorway surprisingly rare. It's only appeared on the Kobe 6 and Kobe 6 Protro, plus a "Reverse Grinch" version that dropped in 2023. Bringing it to the Kobe 3 Low Protro is a real departure for the design.
The neon green and red combo also draws a loose connection to the green mamba snake, tying back into Kobe's own Black Mamba branding. That extra layer of meaning is part of why the colorway has stayed relevant so long after its debut.
With the Kobe 3 Low Protro line already building serious momentum this year, adding "Grinch" into the mix only raises the stakes. This might end up being one of the most requested holiday releases of 2026.
