Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa gets Stephen A Smith co-sign over stunning ‘Mamba’ shoes

Prominent sports analyst Stephen A. Smith says he will "definitely get a pair" of the brand-new Nike Kobe 5 Protro "Year of the Mamba."

Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa gets Stephen A Smith co-sign over stunning ‘Mamba’ shoes

Stephen A Smith endorses new Kobe 5 Protro

Nike, the most popular sports shoe and apparel brand, kicked off 2025 as the “Year of the Mamba.” As part of this campaign, Nike launched its Kobe Bryant line of shoes, aligning it with the Lunar New Year, specifically the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.

The late great Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, teased fans with a new release, particularly in relation to the “Year of the Mamba” theme. She took to her Instagram account to introduce the new all-black colorway of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro, along with Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black soundtrack. This secured her Stephen A. Smith‘s backing, as he said on X that he “loves” the new look.

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Love this. Will definitely get a pair.

Stephen A Smith tweeted

Vanessa has been very active in her efforts to keep her husband’s legacy alive. In the past, since Mamba’s passing, she has posted several of his shoes and apparel online on her Instagram account, which helped create a significant buzz among fans. Recently, she also shared a throwback snapshot of her with Kobe on the eve of Valentine’s Day.

Stephen A. Smith also had a close relationship with the late Lakers legend. From exchanging texts to revealing interviews, the two had their own dynamic behind the scenes. However, Smith has confirmed that Kobe always inspired him to be better. So, it was a surprise for some fans when SAS compared Kevin Durant to No. 24 to drive his point home about KD being a top 10 player of all time after he recently entered the elite 30,000-point club in the NBA.

Stephen A Smith compares Kevin Durant to the late Kobe Bryant

Ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday, Stephen A. Smith uploaded the latest installment of his YouTube show. In the new episode, he posed a question to the NBA community, asking, “Is Kevin Durant a top-10 all-time player?” Here’s what the analyst had to say in The Slim Reaper’s favour.

Do you understand that Kevin Durant is a career 27 points per game scorer? Do you understand he’s a career 50 per cent shooter from the field?…….The intangibles, meaning the sizzles, the pizzazz that Kobe had — that’s not Kevin Durant.

Stephen A Smith said
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During the segment, he also wondered how the 36-year-old’s career would have played out had he been traded to the Lakers and teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal instead. Could he have been able to three-peat?

KD recently crossed the 30,000-point mark, making him only the eighth player ever to do so in the NBA history. After the game, his opponent, Ja Morant, made sure to honor the OG with the game ball as a tribute to his massive feat. On Sunday, Durant will make his 15th All-Star appearance, going up against the league’s rookies as a member of Team Shaq’s OG.