DeMar DeRozan Wears Nike Kobe 6 at Drew League

DeRozan showed out in a pair of player exclusives.

The Drew League is a legendary Pro-Am basketball league held in South Central Los Angeles, California. Dozens of NBA players have made a pilgrimage there to play in front of die-hard hoops fans. Everyone from Kobe Bryant to James Harden to LaMelo Ball has displayed their skills at the annual event.

No player is as synonymous with the Drew League as Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan. The Compton native has played in the league since he was 14. Not only has the prodigy hooper turned into a 5-time NBA All-Star, but he has often used the event to showcase his footwear.

DeRozan's respect for the late-great Kobe Bryant is well-documented. No player in the association has a stronger collection of Nike Kobe's than DeRozan. In the past, DeRozan has debuted new Kobe's at the Drew League. While the local legend didn't wear a new model, he did rock a pair of player exclusives that have not been released to the public.

The kicks worn by DeRozan are a black and white pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protros. For the novice sneakerhead, 'Protro' is a conjunction of the words 'performance' and 'retro.' Before Bryant's untimely passing, Nike began re-releasing his older shoes with updated technology advancements.

In April 2021, Nike and the Bryant estate let the contract lapse when they could not agree on a new contract. Luckily for fans, the two parties announced a new partnership in March 2022. Vanessa Bryant said, "fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike product for years to come."

This is welcomed news to Kobe fans and sneakerheads alike. While we wait on more Kobe's to hit shelves, it appears DeRozan will continue to tantalize us with more unobtainable shoes. Stay locked into FanNation Kicks for more updates, breaking news, and interviews from the world of hoop shoes.