The short answer to "does nike Still make Kobe Grinches" is no. Nike does not keep the Grinch colorway in continuous production. It returns in limited retro runs, and those runs tend to sell through in hours rather than weeks. Below is how the release pattern actually works, where pairs come from now, and how to buy them without parking cash in the wrong sizes.
Why the Grinch Returns in Waves, Not Seasons
The Kobe 6 Protro Grinch released in December 2020 and cleared out almost immediately. The Kobe line then went quiet for a stretch before coming back to shelves in 2023, after Nike and the Bryant family reached a new agreement. Since then the brand has cycled through Kobe 6 and Kobe 8 Protro drops, including the Reverse Grinch in late 2023.
None of that adds up to a standing order. Nike treats the Grinch as a limited or anniversary release, with retail pricing in the roughly $180 to $220 band in recent years and secondary market asks running well above it. Verify current figures with your supplier before you build a margin plan around them.
What That Means for a Shop's Buying Plan
Store owners who ask "does nike still make Kobe Grinches" usually want one thing: a predictable size run they can promise a customer. That expectation does not match how the shoe is sold. You get allocation, not supply.
So does Nike still make Kobe Grinches in a full run you can restock in six weeks? No. You get a launch window, a limited allocation if you hold an account, and very little after that. Plan around a two-to-six week selling window and set your resale price before the drop, not after.
Shops without a Nike account face a different problem. The practical path is verified secondary channels or a distributor you can audit. At that point, authentication and return terms matter more than the unit price you negotiate.
Where Pairs Come From Now
Four channels account for most Grinch inventory moving into small shops today. Each trades price against certainty, and the trade gets worse as you move down the list.
| Channel | Availability | Price predictability | Main risk | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized retail allocation | Tied to launch windows, shallow size runs | Retail price, real spread | Allocation limits, no repeats | Shops with an existing Nike account |
| Secondary market and consignment | Year-round, thin in extended sizes | Moves weekly, hard to lock | Authentication failures, weak margin | Shops with an in-house check process |
| Regional distributor lots | Batch-based, mixed size curves | Negotiable, needs verification | Unclear provenance, mixed condition | Volume buyers with written returns |
| Liquidation and pallet buys | Unpredictable | Low upfront, high sorting cost | Condition issues, size gaps | Clearance-driven stores only |
Look at where the margin actually sits. Retail allocation is the only channel with genuine spread, and it is the one most independents cannot reach. Everything else is a sourcing and authentication problem rather than a pricing problem. A distributor who hears "does nike still make Kobe Grinches" should answer with a SKU, box label photos, and a written return policy. If they cannot, walk away.
Pre-Order Checklist Before You Commit Cash
Run this list every time a lot is offered, whether the seller is a broker, a consignment partner, or a shop closing out inventory.
- Confirm the SKU and colorway code against the box label and the shoe's internal tag, not just the listing photos.
- Ask for the size breakdown in units, not percentages, and price the lot against your actual sell-through by size.
- Request timestamped photos of the midsole tooling, heel stitching, tongue label, and outsole traction pattern.
- Get the return window in writing, including who pays shipping on a failed authentication.
- Check whether the pairs are new, tried on, or worn, and whether boxes and extra laces are included.
- Budget for a third-party legit check on any lot above your comfort threshold, and treat that fee as part of the landed cost.
Two of those items decide most deals. The size breakdown tells you whether the lot is sellable at full margin, and the return terms tell you whether a single bad pair sinks the order.
Sizes, Authentication, and the Reverse Grinch
Core US men's sizes carry the Grinch. Sizes 9 through 11 move fastest in most shops, with 8 and 12 close behind. Extended sizes sit longer at full price, so only take them when the discount accounts for the wait or when a specific customer has already asked.
On authentication, work from the details that are expensive to copy: the midsole tooling, the heel counter shape, the stitching density around the collar, and the box label font and placement. Photos alone are never enough on a high-value Kobe pair. Use a professional legit check service for anything you cannot inspect in person.
The Reverse Grinch is a separate release with its own SKU and an inverted green-and-red layout. It sells to the same customer but does not substitute for the original in a collector's eyes, so do not let a seller swap one for the other at the same price.
Questions Buyers Keep Asking
Will Nike restock the Grinch again?
Nike has not published a permanent schedule for the colorway. Anyone asking "does nike still make Kobe Grinches" after a restock rumor should check Nike's own launch calendar and SNKRS listings first. Treat social posts and broker claims as unverified until a launch date appears on an official channel.
Is the Reverse Grinch worth stocking instead?
It moves, but demand is narrower. Buy it when your customers already ask for Kobe retros by name, and keep the depth modest. For walk-in traffic that wants "the green Kobe," the original Grinch still converts better.
How many pairs should a small shop commit to?
Start with a test quantity that covers your core sizes and no more. A common approach is two to four pairs per fast size and one pair in the tail sizes, then reorder only if the first sell-through supports it. Confirm minimums with each supplier, since MOQ rules vary widely.
Can I import Grinch pairs directly from overseas?
Some buyers do, but the risk profile changes. Duties, clearance procedures, and authenticity checks all become your responsibility, and the rules vary by shipment and country of origin. Confirm the details with a licensed customs broker before you commit to a container or a large air shipment.
Next Step
If you are building a Kobe program for the coming season, send us your size curve and target landed cost. We will tell you what is realistically available, what the authentication process looks like, and where the margin holds up. Reach out for a current availability sheet and a quote.