As if the 2010 Christmas Day match up between Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh Heat needed more intrigue, it also marked the debut of the Nike Zoom Kobe VI “Grinch” — a sneaker that would transcend Christmas and become a year-round classic.
The new sneaker made a splash, with the entire Lakers team wearing special “Grinch” bright green colorways of their own Player Exclusives. Fans sitting courtside even received their own pairs in gift bags.
Originally dubbed the “Green Mamba,” the name “Grinch” stuck for obvious reasons. The massive ratings of the game, a combination of the national Christmas Day broadcast and the appeal of the Big Three, allowed the shoes’ introduction to enter the sneaker-loving public’s consciousness immediately.
The Kobe 6 is now the most popular sneaker in the NBA, according to Kixstats, with the “Grinch” colorway leading the way. They originally retailed for $130. Today, the cheapest pairs on StockX are going for $539.
“Nike (and players) have kept them in the limelight,” said Sneakonomic Growth author Dylan Dittrich, explaining the resonance of sneakers. “Nike started making Kobe 'Protros' in 2018 — basically, they remake Kobe's signature shoes with more modern performance tech. That paved the way for Kobes to become the most popular on-court choice in the NBA, which they still are. Other models like the GT Cuts and Sabrinas have drafted off the Kobe aesthetic.”
Dittrich credits their enduring popularity and status as the most iconic Kobe colorway to the “recurring seasonal uptick in visibility.”
JOOPITER is currently offering the only game-worn pair of Kobe “Grinches” from that 2010 debut for sale. The shoes are currently available by inquiry only, and JOOPITER is accepting offers upward of $10 million.
That price point is surely aggressive, as the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold is a pair of game-worn Jordans from the 1998 NBA Finals which fetched $2.2 million. A lot of six single sneakers from each of Jordan’s championships sold for $8 million.
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Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.