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Nike to release ‘Mambacita Sweet 16’ shoes to honor Gigi Bryant

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Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

Nike is set to release a new sneaker honoring Gigi Bryant on what would be her 16th birthday.

The Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” will be released on May 1, with the shoe’s profits going to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Gigi Bryant and her father, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, were killed in a helicopter crash alongside seven others in January 2020.

In March, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow and Gigi Bryant’s mother, announced the collaboration to honor Gigi with a signature shoe.

“I am so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world,” Vanessa Bryant wrote on Instagram. “I know this is an inspiring moment for my husband and daughter’s global fans, and I am very appreciative of each and every one of you!”

Vanesa Bryant’s announcement comes after she had reportedly grown frustrated with the company due to the limited availability of Kobe merchandise before ultimately deciding to sign a new contract with Nike.

Kobe Bryant originally signed with Nike in 2003.