Kobe 11 Protro
Well-built, but it is a 2016 platform resold at flagship-retro pricing that the community calls insanely overpriced, with a mediocre value score from reviewers. Pay the most here and you get the oldest technology here. Buy the Way of Wade 12 instead.
Consolidated from 7 cited sources across 6 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 2 positive sources
- 2 mixed sources
6 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
A decade-old 2016 platform with a swapped-in drop-in midsole sold at flagship-retro pricing the community calls insanely overpriced, with a mediocre value score from reviewers, making the cost per year of ownership the worst on this board.
Flagged 17 October 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Well made underneath the retro pricing
- ✓ Low, responsive profile
- ✓ Strong traction
- ✓ High-density EVA mid-sole
- ✓ Reinforced outsole
- ✗ Community calls it insanely overpriced, both the original and the Protro, and the worst selling Kobes
- ✗ Full performance review scored its value 5/10, slightly overpriced
- ✗ Decade-old 2016 platform with a swapped-in drop-in midsole
- ✗ Resale-driven pricing makes cost per year of ownership the worst among comparable shoes
- ✗ Community calls the Kobe Elites insanely overpriced
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 1 outlet wouldn't let us check its link.
Evidence 5 video reviews and 2 community sources
2 positive sources
Sole Inclined Sole Inclined · 12.9K subscribers · Apr 2026 I really like it.Watch L
Lee Anderson Lee Anderson · 285 subscribers · May 2026 So, I've got to play in this shoe a handful of times and to be honest, um, I like it a lot. You know, I know the reviews are a little mixed. Some people say, you know, the grip's not too great. I personally haven't had any like slippage issues. Um, grip's pretty good on the courts that I've played on so far. Um, is it the most durable grip? Probably not. But, besides that, you know, grip holds upWatch
2 mixed sources
DGHoops DGHoops · 403K subscribers · Apr 2026 Personally, I really am not a fan of the downgraded shape and the swoosh, but at the end of the day, again, no one's going to know the difference. And honestly, this is a really nice shoe at the end of the day, so These are both the same size, by the way. In terms of sizing, I would stay true to size for the Protro, whereas the originals fit a lot tighter, especially in the midfoot.Watch D
DGHoops DGHoops · 403K subscribers · Apr 2026 This traction is not durable, okay? It is not durable at all, so I would not take these outdoors. Even indoors, these will fray really quickly because they are already fraying. The main {quote} upgrade that Nike made with the traction pattern is that the middle, what is kind of like a spine, is not caved in. It's actually more indented outwards.Watch
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #15 of 16 on our basketball shoes tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 7 cited sources across 6 outlets.
None of the 4 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Community calls it insanely overpriced, both the original and the Protro, and the worst selling Kobes. Full performance review scored its value 5/10, slightly overpriced. Decade-old 2016 platform with a swapped-in drop-in midsole. Resale-driven pricing makes cost per year of ownership the worst among comparable shoes. Community calls the Kobe Elites insanely overpriced.
Ranked nearby in Basketball Shoes
S tier #1 Way of Wade 12
S tier #2 Li-Ning Gamma 2
A tier #3 New Balance BB V3
B tier #4 New Balance TWO WXY V5
D tier #10 1 of 2 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Adidas Subzone
D tier #11 15 of 21 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. G.T. Cut 4
F tier #12 5 of 16 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Nike LeBron Witness 9
F tier #13 14 of 20 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Nike Ja 3
F tier #14 14 of 18 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Kobe 11 Elite Protro
F tier #16 6 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.