Jalen Brunson has another Kobe PE coming in 2027, this time with the Nike Kobe 5 Protro “What The Rick.” The pair is expected in Summer 2027 and will be his second Kobe 5 release, along with the fourth of his Kobe player exclusives to get a wider launch.

The shoe is built around Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father and longtime basketball influence. Rick played nine seasons in the NBA before moving into coaching, and he now works as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks.

Brunson first wore the “What The Rick” Kobe 5 Protro on April 24, 2025, during Game 3 of New York’s first-round playoff series against Detroit. The color mix pulls from several teams Rick played for during his NBA career, including Portland, New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, the Clippers, Seattle, and Houston.

The Knicks connection stands out the most. Blue and orange take over much of the forefoot and side panels, while the rest of the shoe mixes in different colors tied to Rick’s stops around the league. That setup gives it the familiar “What The” look without losing the meaning behind the pair.

Nike Kobe 5 Protro What The Rick Release Date

The Jalen Brunson x Nike Kobe 5 Protro “What The Rick” is expected to release in Summer 2027 through SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retailers. An earlier release in New York City is also expected before the wider launch.

Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Sneaker Release Dates page.

Source: Sneaker Market RO / @brandon1an