Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Lower Merion Aces” releases in March

Kobe Brand and Nike return to one of the most celebrated colorways of the Nike Kobe 5. Inspired by his high school basketball team, the “Lower Merion Aces” colorway reflects the burgundy threads the legend wore before ever stepping foot in the NBA.

The Kobe 5 “Lower Merion Aces” was originally released in 2010 in a very limited edition and is available exclusively at Foot Locker House Of Hoops in collaboration with Nike Basketball. House Of Hoops was once the exclusive destination for these PE-style releases, but this retail concept quickly disappeared.

For 2026, Nike has updated the shoe’s construction as part of the Protro program, while also updating the logos on the heel and behind the tongue. The “Aces” text in a black spade is replaced by an embroidered symbol on the left heel with “33” on the right – a tribute to Bryant’s jersey number. A new label has been added behind the tongue that combines the year of release with the skull logo.

The biggest update is that Nike will release the shoe in elementary school sizes for the first time; Here are official brand images of the kids’ sizing, providing a first look at the upcoming 2026 pair.

While he was by no means the first to jump from high school to the NBA, Kobe Bryant was often seen as the face of a movement that saw many young and raw talents forego the college game and head straight to the draft. With many teams looking for the next Kobe, Kevin Garnett and T-Mac, the rosters were younger than ever