Durant’s 10th Nike shoe line
Kevin Durant describes his latest Nike shoe as ‘innovative, stylish, and comfortable. But it is always perfect.’
THIS MONTH, National Basketball Association star Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors celebrates 10 successful years of partnership with global sports apparel brand Nike. And to celebrate their decade together, Nike has come out with the All- Star’s 10th shoe line, the KD10.
The new shoe line, which Mr. Durant is currently sporting in the Golden State Warriors’ NBA Western Conference Finals engagement with the San Antonio Spurs, has Nike and designer Leo Chang writing a new playbook for developing a signature basketball line with authentic innovation and inspirations matching the athlete’s own trajectory.
A more advanced Flyknit technology is featured in the KD10, something the player is very satisfied with for its flexibility, breathability, and support.
Mr. Durant got introduced to the Flyknit — which mixes low stretch, high- tenacity yarn at stress points and a high stretch yarn at the collar and across the forefoot which produces a perfect balance of basketball-specific support and a sock-like hug — in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and immediately fell in love with it.
“I got a pair of the Flyknit Racer during the 2012 games in London and immediately loved them. That shoe is so stylish, so innovative, and so comfortable. I’ve been asking for Flyknit in my shoe and the KD10 is my best shoe yet,” said Mr. Durant of latest Nike shoe line.
The Golden State player also added that the “unconventional lacing system” is another feature of the KD10 that he is stoked about.
“I love the laces. They are big and stand out from a mile away. It is one element Leo and I talk about when working designs — one thing that goes under the radar is the laces. To have Flyknit and a unique lacing pattern was key for us,” Mr. Durant said.
Complementing the Flyknit upper material, underfoot lies the full- length Nike Zoom Air unit which debuted in the KD9 and enhanced this time around for durability and tuned for maximum impact cushioning.
With his partnership with Nike now on its 10th year and still going strong, Mr. Durant said he feels privileged to be given such an opportunity.
“To go on this evolution with Nike, to be on my 10th shoe, it’s just something that I dreamt about. You know, 10 years of anything is pretty huge,” the player said.
“Each year has its own story, going through different experiences, making my first All- Star Game, to winning my first MVP, to scoring titles, Olympic Medals, to my first Finals, all of those stories played a huge part in preparing me for the next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, and the year after that. That time just goes past so quickly,” he added.
Mr. Durant further said: “To have your name on a shoe, for it to be yours is special to me. This is my life, I wanted to take control of it and I did, I can’t live my life for nobody else but myself. If I have to describe the KD10 in three words, they will have to be ‘ innovative, stylish, and comfortable. But it is always perfect.’”
The Nike KD10 will be available in the country beginning June 5 and will released at Titan Fort and Nike Park Fort. The suggested retail price is P7,645.