Caitlin Clark Steals NBA Spotlight Thanks to Nike

These sneakers were more worn than the Harden Vol. 10 Imma Be a Star (1,447 minutes) and the Kobe 6 All-Star (1,438 minutes). We get to Clark’s Indiana Fever Kobe 5 Protro at number 5, which was worn for 1,120 minutes. It’s a clear sign that Clark’s PEs are good since the best players in the world are wearing them for a significant amount of time. 

For example, Jalen Brunson wore the Kobe 6 Protro Caitlin Clark’s in his 31-point performance against the Philadelphia Sixers. Brandon Miller of the Hornets wore the Kobe 5 Protro in his 31-point explosion against the Milwaukee Bucks. Nike could also be pushing Clark’s PEs on the court by making them more accessible ahead of Clark’s signature shoe launch. That is a strategy the brand has used before. 

If the Player Edition is being received so well, the signature shoe would be even better. Nike needs it to be. “The technology that we’re gonna put into it isn’t anything that they’ve ever put into a basketball shoe before, so I’m really excited about that,” Clark revealed on the New Heights Podcast. It is predicted to be a “$100 million business” by Nick DePaula. It could even surpass that mark, given the current momentum. 

Even With Her Own PEs, Caitlin Clark Keeps Going Back to the Kobes

Caitlin Clark herself prefers the Kobe 5 and 6 Protro, but more so the 6. In 54.4% (31 games), she has played in Nike Kobe 6 shoes. 45.6% (26 games) have been in Nike Kobe V. The go-to has been the base versions rather than her PEs. She has also sprinkled in the Sail All-Star Edition and the Kobe 5 Protro Year of the Mamba.

Surprisingly, in the 13 games of the 2025 season, Caitlin Clark wore the Indiana Fever colorway only once. The Player Edition was released in June, ahead of the 2025 season, but Clark continued to prefer the normal Kobe 5s and Kobe 6’s, according to Kixstats. The Caitlin Clark PE was released on November 12, when she was out injured. 

“I like a certain two Kobe models,” Clark said. “I knew whatever I was going to put in my own shoe would need to be the equivalent of that technology, or even better. And it’s going to be even better.” She further hinted that her player edition will have some inspiration from the Kobes. “I need that technology everywhere … being comfortable and exactly kind of what I need,” Clark said. 

Maybe Clark planned to wear her PE’s more later in the season. Unfortunately, she never got the opportunity as she sat out with multiple soft tissue injuries. However, that sets the stage for the release of her signature shoe in 2026, aligning with her comeback year. It gives Nike a ready-made storyline to promote her shoes.