The Nike Kobe 9 EM Joins the "Mambacita" Series in This Week's Best Footwear Drops

The NBA Playoffs are continuing to heat up as just two teams accomplished first round sweeps -- the one seeds of each conference -- and three teams face an elimination match tonight in which they're all underdogs. While these franchises battle it out to shape their future, footwear brands have been competing to capture the attention of sneakerheads as yet another stacked roster of footwear drops has been prepared courtesy of Jordan Brand, Nike, Crocs, ASICS, and adidas.

Before we give you the full rundown on what to expect this week, let's first recap the top headlines in the sneaker space from the past seven days. sacai and Nike finally presented the official campaign for their forthcoming Zegamadome sneakers after teasing them last summer. The Swoosh also unveiled the return of the ACG Phassad -- a 2002 outdoor runner that is touching shelves for the first time since its initial rollout. We were also treated to an early look at Nyjah Huston's upcoming Nike SB Nyjah 4. As for the Jumpman crew, another fragment design x Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG colorway surfaced, offering a "Black/White" composition. Not to mention, a detailed presentation of UNDEFEATED's Air Jordan 4 has built even more excitement for its comeback.

Elsewhere in the sneaker space, Supreme finally dropped its Vans Skate Grosso Mid collab from 2022, featuring artwork from longtime Supreme collaborator Nate Lowman. COMME des GARÇONS put its own spin on the BAPE STA in celebration of BAPE's fifth anniversary within the COMME des GARÇONS Osaka flagship. Action Bronson hosted his Baklava Megastore pop-up in NYC, revealing an upcoming New Balance 992 collaboration. Another preview of thisisneverthat's New Balance Made in UK 991v2 also hit the net alongside a New Balance 1500 “London Marathon” sneaker that dropped.

With all of these key headlines reviewed, let's pivot to which 10 drops you should have on your radar this week, starting with a new colorway of Travis Scott's signature shoe with Jordan Brand. After you make your way through the list, be sure to hit up HBX to shop styles that are available now.

Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack “Bright Cactus”

Release Date: April 30
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Travis Scott took over Coachella earlier this month and is back with Jordan Brand to release a new colorway of his signature Jordan Jumpman Jack silhouette. The shoe is set to arrive in its "Bright Cactus" composition this week, pairing off-white and black with the green shade. Its leather and canvas build also hosts a flipped lateral Swoosh, midfoot strap, and Scott's face logo at the heel.

Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 “Honey Blacks”

Release Date: April 30
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: Corteiz
Why You Should Cop: Corteiz and Nike took the sneaker world by storm with their collaborative Air Max 95 colorways in 2023. The two are continuing their partnership this week by again featuring the silhouette in a collaborative campaign as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. This "Honey Blacks" version of the shoe sees it covered in black and accented by "Tour Yellow" co-branding throughout. It also features a tonal callout to London’s coordinates at the heel, a motif used previously by the two.

Nina Chanel Abney x Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog

Release Date: April 30
Release Price: $95 USD
Where to Buy: BeASpunge
Why You Should Cop: Salehe Bembury's Crocs Pollex Clog continues to be one of his canvases of choice, however, he started a new series -- titled "Art Friends Thumbs Up Good Job" -- last year to offer it as a one to artists too. Futura and Jonas Wood were the first two to take on the shoe and now Nina Chanel Abney has assembled her own version. A checkerboard pattern in black and white stretches across the clog in two different ways -- the left shoe features a repeated face design and the right dons the typical squares of the board, albeit somewhat stretched. Pink accents the pair alongside "NCA" nods at the strap and footbed.

Nike Kobe 9 EM "Mambacita"

Release Date: May 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Vanessa Bryant and Nike Basketball have honored Gigi Bryant each year with a special "Mambacita" colorway of a Kobe model dropping on her birthday. This has been taking place since 2022, starting with the Kobe 6 Protro and now featuring the Kobe 9 EM. A white to black gradient adorns the upper as golden detailing hits the Swooshes, tongue branding, and nods to Gigi at the heel. The pair is also accompanied by a golden Mambacita hangtag to complete the look.

Nike Air Max 95 “Pink Foam”

Release Date: May 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The commemoration of the Air Max 95's 30th anniversary continues this week with the women's-exclusive "Pink Foam" colorway. The pair features OG-inspired "Big Bubble" tooling, offering a more true recreation of the 1995 design. Its human anatomy-based structure is again presented with a gradient, starting at dark gray and shifting to a lighter gray as it works towards the uppermost layer of the upper. Meanwhile, hits of pink are spread throughout the shoe.

Kiko Kostadinov x ASICS UB10-S GEL-KAYANO 20

Release Date: May 2
Release Price: ¥26,400 JPY (Approximately $183 USD)
Where to Buy: ASICS
Why You Should Cop: Kiko Kostadinov has been paving the way for ASICS' ascent in the fashion space, creating entirely new silhouettes and modernizing existing ones. One such design is the UB10-S GEL-KAYANO 20 -- a reimagined take on the GEL-KAYANO 20 from 2013. Its updated structure features a mesh and synthetic build that now hosts three new colorways. “Moss/Gunmetal,” "Indigo/Sea Glass,” and “Plum/Beet Juice” each serve up a unique flavor, ranging from green to blue and a fusion of orange, purple, and red.

adidas Climacool “Off White”

Release Date: May 2
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: adidas has a longstanding history with exploring 3D-printing techniques within the footwear space. It's back this week with another 3D-printed breakthrough -- the new laceless Climacool sneaker, which sports a monochromatic "Off White." Its wavy lattice structure runs throughout the sneaker, offering natural breathability. The shoe may be bare, sporting only Three Stripes branding at the lateral and outsole, however, it makes a statement with its cutting-edge construction.

Air Jordan 4 "Forget Me Not"

Release Date: May 3
Release Price: $215 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Jordan Brand is celebrating Mother's Day this year by dropping its "Forget Me Not" colorway of the Air Jordan 4. The thematic design is presented in a "Blue Tint" composition -- one that sees the blue hue combine with white across the shoe. What makes this pair special, and ties it to the theme, is a removable chenille flower lace attachment that is present at the lacing system.

atmos x BAPE x adidas SSTAR V

Release Date: May 3
Release Price: ¥27,500 JPY (approx. $193 USD)
Where to Buy: atmos
Why You Should Cop: Hot off of hosting atmoscon -- the largest sneaker event of the year in Japan -- the Japanese brand is offering a wider release of some of its exclusive collaborations, including a take on the adidas Superstar assembled by BAPE, which previously took on the "SSTAR V" earlier this year. This new rendition of the shoe features ABC SOLID CAMO embossing in black at the upper, combining with the white BAPE STA and Three Stripes branding at the midfoot, both of which sport atmos' signature “G-SNK” treatment: a glow-in-the-dark snakeskin-inspired material.

CSEF x Nike SB Dunk Low

Release Date: May 3
Release Price: $135 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: The College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF) was created in 2017 and supports skaters who are looking to further their education. Its school-themed take on the SB Dunk Low leans on black and white while incorporating touches of green, yellow, and pink as well. A scantron-inspired woven tongue tag, athletic typography at the heel tabs, and ceremonial CSEF graduation tassel are all featured alongside a white skate-away upper that reveals an "Eraser Pink" underneath.

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