Two Grinches, Two Style Codes, Two Markets
"Kobe 6 Grinch" describes 2 different shoes with 2 different markets. The 2010 original carries style code 429659-701. The 2020 Protro carries style code CW2190-300. One is a collector artifact tied to a Christmas Day game. The other is an updated performance shoe and the first Kobe Nike release after his death. A Kobe 6 Grinch price comparison starts with knowing which one you own.
The style code on your tongue label or box is the fastest way to settle the question. Kobe Bryant wore the original colourway against the Miami Heat on December 25, 2010, and that on-court moment earned the shoe its Dr. Seuss-inspired nickname and launched a collector legacy. The 2020 Protro landed a decade later with updated internals and an entirely different demand story. Identical colourway, different construction, different price tier.
This piece covers the style codes, what separates the 2 shoes on court, current resale data with sources and dates, 1 concrete authentication tell, and how to get an estimate for your specific pair in your collection.
The Two Releases, Side by Side
The fastest way to identify which Grinch you own is the style code printed on the tongue label or the box lid. Here is how the 2 releases break down.
| 2010 Original | 2020 Protro | |
|---|---|---|
| Style Code | 429659-701 | CW2190-300 |
| Retail Price | $130 | $180 |
| Release Date | December 25, 2010 | December 24, 2020 |
| Context | Christmas Day game shoe worn by Kobe Bryant against the Miami Heat. The on-court moment created the collector premium. | The first Kobe 6 Protro ever made, and the first Nike Kobe release after Kobe Bryant's death in January 2020. Demand surged well above retail immediately. |
| Market Role | Collector artifact with extremely thin supply | Performance shoe with limited but comparatively wider availability |
If your tag reads 429659-701, you own the original. If it reads CW2190-300, you own the Protro.
One note on other Grinch-coloured releases: shoes like the GT Cut 3 Grinch borrow the colourway but carry none of the Kobe 6 silhouette's collector weight. Colourway alone does not determine resale value. The silhouette and the specific style code does.
What Makes the Protro Different on Court
The Protro is not a simple reissue. Nike rebuilt the cushioning platform with a Zoom Air Turbo forefoot unit and softer heel foam, replacing the 2010-era setup. On foot, the forefoot feels noticeably more responsive. The outsole traction pattern was also revised to grip modern court surfaces better than the decade-old original.
Those updates make the Protro a legitimate performance shoe you can run in today. The 2010 original was designed for 2010 courts with 2010 materials. Wearing it now puts miles on a pair with thin, irreplaceable supply, and every session on hardwood brings you closer to a dead stock pair that no longer exists.
The wear versus collect decision comes down to which style code is on your tongue. If you are hooping, the Protro makes more sense. If you own the original, the calculus changes.
How Much Is the Kobe 6 Grinch Worth Right Now
The Kobe 6 Grinch Protro resale price covers a wide band. Completed sales for CW2190-300 ranged from $291 to $1,913 over the prior 12 months, with 232 transactions recorded in the 3-month window alone, a data set StockX published as of a September 23, 2026 observation. The last completed sale landed at a 264% premium over the $180 retail price. That is not an outlier; the 3-month range of $291 to $1,416 confirms sustained demand well above retail.
Platform matters. Google Shopping surfaced GOAT asking prices at $329 and $919 for the Protro on the same date, with Flight Club listing at $972. These are asking prices, not confirmed sales. The actual transaction price can land considerably lower.
The 2010 original sits in a different tier entirely. Hypeboost listed pairs with style code 429659-701 between EUR 1,236 and EUR 2,397 depending on size, as observed on September 23, 2026. That translates to roughly 9 to 18 times the original $130 retail. Supply is so thin that size alone can swing the price by hundreds of euros.
Neither version has been restocked. The Protro has not returned to shelves since its December 24, 2020 release, and that constraint supports the premium on both. Price also shifts significantly by size, a pattern that applies across most limited Nike silhouettes. The CYKI guide on how shoe sizes affect resale value breaks down which sizes typically command premiums and why.
Kobe 6 Grinch Fake vs Real: The One Tell That Matters
The most reliable visual signal on the Protro Grinch, drawn from Legit Grails authentication guidance, is profile height. An authentic pair sits noticeably closer to the ground than a counterfeit.
Fake pairs give themselves away with a toe box that looks too thick relative to the shoe's true silhouette. If the toe box appears stacked or puffy when you view the shoe from the side, that is a red flag. The misconception worth correcting here: a thicker toe box does not mean more padding or a premium build. On the Kobe 6, it is one of the clearest signs of a fake.
A single visual check is useful for a quick filter, but it is not enough for a high-value purchase. Before buying any Grinch on the secondary market, run the pair through a professional authentication service. The cost of a legit check is negligible compared to the price of a counterfeit Kobe 6.
FAQ
Why is the Kobe 6 Grinch so expensive?
Three forces converge. The Christmas Day 2010 game created the original's collector mystique. Kobe Bryant's death in January 2020 elevated demand for every Kobe silhouette. Supply on both versions is extremely thin, with no Protro restock since its December 2020 release and no original pairs manufactured since 2010. Those 3 factors compress supply against growing demand, and the price reflects it.
Has there been a Kobe 6 Grinch restock in 2024 or 2025?
No. As of September 2026, Nike has not restocked the Protro Grinch since its December 24, 2020 debut. The 2010 original has not been retailed since its initial run. There is no confirmed restock date for either version.
Is the Kobe 6 Grinch Protro a good basketball shoe?
For the right player, yes. The Zoom Air Turbo forefoot and revised traction make it a capable performer on current courts. The tradeoff is financial: hooping in a pair that trades at several hundred dollars and up on StockX is a personal call between performance and preservation. If you are buying to play, the Protro's construction supports it. If you are buying to hold, dead stock condition matters.
Which Grinch Do You Own? Search the Style Code in CYKI
The style code on your tongue label tells you which market you are in. 429659-701 is the 2010 collector original. CW2190-300 is the 2020 Protro. Searching the wrong code gives you the wrong estimate, and the gap between these 2 shoes can be hundreds or thousands of dollars.
CYKI lets you search by style code so the rack value estimate reflects the specific release you own, not an average across both. That estimate is based on recent resale marketplace data and updates regularly, with limitations explained rather than hidden. You can see how CYKI calculates these estimates directly.
Once you rack your Grinch, CYKI shows it alongside everything else in your collection. You can see how one pair affects your total portfolio value and how it tracks against the broader sneaker market, whether you add pairs manually or use a migration feature later.
Search your style code in CYKI so the estimate matches the year you own.