The Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” is one of the most iconic sneakers in Kobe Bryant’s signature line. Bryant debuted the sneakers on Christmas Day in 2010 during a game against the new look Miami Heat, featuring the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Although the Los Angeles Lakers lost that Christmas Day matchup to the Heat, the Grinch Kobe 6s Bryant wore during the game have since become one of the most popular and sought-after basketball sneakers to this day.

The “Grinch” nickname comes from the vibrant, Christmas-themed colorway, which features a bright volt green upper paired with red accents and a black Nike Swoosh. The bold color scheme reflected Kobe Bryant’s dynamic playing style, while the “Grinch” name was inspired by the Dr. Seuss character, who tried to “ruin Christmas,” paralleling Kobe’s relentless attitude and ability to steal victories for the Los Angeles Lakers.

To this day, the Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” is considered the best Christmas Day sneaker of all time, thanks to its vibrant colorway, overall aesthetics, and creative storytelling that draws inspiration from both Kobe Bryant and the Grinch.

In 2021, Nike brought back the Kobe 6 “Grinch” as part of their Protro line, which focuses on performance upgrades for older Kobe models. The 2021 Protro release preserved the original design while updating the technology and materials to meet modern performance standards. In 2024, Nike also introduced cleated versions of the Kobe 6 “Grinch” for football players to wear on the field.