Nike is adding another Kobe tribute to the Air Force 1 Low lineup. The "Black/Purple Stardust" colorway is set to release in October 1st 2026 for $120. The style code is IB0018-007.
The shoe pairs a black snakeskin-textured leather upper with purple accents throughout. Purple hits the interior lining, tongue, and outsole. Kobe's signature Mamba sheath logo sits on the lateral heel and tongue tag, a detail fans have seen across several Kobe AF1 drops.
The heel tabs carry embroidered "8" and "24" numbering in purple. That detail nods to both numbers Kobe wore across his career. A white midsole rounds out the look, keeping the upper as the main focus and letting the purple pop without overwhelming the design.
This isn't a standalone drop either. The AF1 releases alongside a matching Kobe AD Protro "Purple Stardust" and an Offcourt Slide in the same colorway. That Kobe AD Protro pair brings back a fan-favorite 2017 look, and we broke down that release in full here. All three are expected through Nike and select retailers.
Given the snakeskin texture and clean purple pop, this AF1 should move fast once it lands, especially among collectors already tracking the Protro release.
Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Black/Purple Stardust”
Nike has leaned heavily into Kobe-themed Air Force 1s in recent seasons. The silhouette has become a steady canvas for honoring his legacy outside the signature Protro line, and this colorway keeps that streak going.
Purple ties directly back to the Lakers, the team Kobe spent his entire career with. It's a color combo that shows up often across his sneaker tributes for that reason, and it's exactly why the original Kobe AD "Purple Stardust" became such a fan favorite back in 2017.
October is shaping up to be a loaded month for Nike overall. That's also the date the Nike Mind 001 brings back three colorways in its latest restock, giving sneakerheads two very different Nike stories to track on the same morning.
At $120, the AF1 sits at an accessible price point for a Kobe release. That should help it move through retail before resale prices take over.
