Kevin Durant Basketball Shoes
From KD’s NCAA milestones to his 17th signature silhouette, an overview of the superstar’s footwear and career.
Born in Washington, D.C. on September 29, 1988, Kevin Durant is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Durant began playing basketball for National Christian Academy, before transferring to Montrose Christian School and committing to the University of Texas. At Texas, he led the Longhorns to the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament as a freshman and earned numerous accolades, including the Naismith College Player of the Year award and first-team All-American honors.
Nicknamed “The Slim Reaper” or simply “KD,” Durant began to showcase his potential for greatness after being drafted as the second overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2007. Winning two NBA championships, two MVP awards and 14 All-Star nominations, Durant's scoring prowess has seen him place on the top 10 all-time scoring leaders list. In 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, he broke Carmelo Anthony’s Team USA record for most points scored in Olympic history, cementing his legacy as one of the country’s all-time basketball greats. This contribution saw the US pick up four successive golds at the tournament; Durant’s third in a row.
Durant wore Nike shoes from his younger years through college and throughout his career in the NBA. In 2007, he joined the Swoosh, becoming one of the brand's most prominent athletes. Nike launched the KD line, which features footwear, apparel and accessories across various sports, primarily focusing on basketball. The KD 1 debuted in 2008 as Durant’s first signature shoe, inspired by his determination and how he described himself as a “gym rat.”
Beyond creating products at the forefront of performance, Durant's partnership with Nike extends to community impact. He has been involved in many philanthropic efforts, including the Durant Family Foundation, which aims to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs. The pink ‘Aunt Pearl’ shoes that are released annually in tandem with Kay Yow Cancer Fund are the most notable in Durant’s line, an annual tradition in honor of Durant’s late Aunt Pearl, who passed away from lung cancer in 2000.
In 2014, Durant signed a long-term partnership with Nike that further solidified his relationship with the label, ensuring his continued influence in the sports and lifestyle markets well beyond his playing career. In 2023, Durant joined the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo in signing a lifetime contract with Nike.
Kevin Durant Signature Shoes
Durant has preferred low-cut sneakers throughout his Nike signature series, claiming it supports his versatile game and helps with cutting movements. The line’s first 12 iterations were designed by Leo Chang, who then passed the creative baton to Ben Nethongkome. Below a guide to some of the most notable.
KD 17
Durant wore the KD 17 as the Phoenix Suns succumbed to an early exit by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Paying homage to the Air Max Plus with wavy TPU overlays on the upper, the ’90s-inspired shoe features a large forefoot Zoom Air unit and Air cushioning in the heel.
KD 16
Embracing a futuristic design, the KD 16 builds on the underfoot system of the 15th iteration, attaching an Air unit to the underside of the upper and Zoom Air unit at the forefoot. The upper features thicker mesh in strategic areas, helping stabilize the foot.
KD 12
Responsiveness was the main drive of the KD 12 engineering process. Securing a multilayer mesh upper with Flywire cords and a Flyknit tongue, a full-length Zoom Air Strobel unit is stitched underfoot for impact absorption.
KD 4
The KD 4 saw the return of the forefoot strap that had been left out of the series since the KD 2. Released in 2011, the strap works with an external midfoot shank to hold the foot in place. A forefoot Zoom Air unit is housed within the Phylon midsole.
“Ok, I’ve been thinking that on the KD 3, I don’t want a strap! I think I want to try the Kobe collar.” That was the email instruction Durant sent to Nike footwear designer Leo Chang, who was tasked with developing the shoe. The Phylon midsole is reinforced to be heavier for additional support, with Zoom Air cushioning in the forefoot.
Kevin Durant Sneaker Technology
The KD 12 introduced Zoom Strobel technology to Nike sneakers. This innovation fused Zoom Air cushioning to Strobel, allowing athletes to feel responsive cushioning underfoot. Over the years, the Kevin Durant series has regularly adapted the Swoosh’s latest performance developments, from Flywire to Flyknit.
Popular Kevin Durant Colorways
Kevin Durant’s signature series has been realized in an expansive range of colorways. Below is an overview of the line’s most popular colorways.
Aunt Pearl
One of the most celebrated and beloved series in the history of signature basketball shoes, KD’s Aunt Pearl colorways are all about the color pink. Since the first Aunt Pearl release in 2012, the color has been utilized in various guises, from pastel tones to bright shades.
All-Star
Arguably the most high-wattage colorway in the KD series, the All-Star is rendered in an array of maximalist hues and exotic animal prints. In 2024, the colorway featured on the KD 16, taking inspiration from global currencies with dollar typography and security strips in homage to Durant's “Easy Money” moniker.
Texas
Inspired by Durant’s alma mater, the Texas colorway is one of the most popular in KD’s signature series. Inspired by the Texas Longhorns’ burnt orange and white uniform colors, the tones come together on each iteration for a subdued visual statement.
Weatherman
‘Weatherman’ is an iconic colorway in the Durant signature line, pushing the boundaries of thematic storytelling by asking, “What would happen if KD followed up his second career choice of a meteorologist?” The style highlights the forward’s playful side, featuring an emerald green base with weather-inspired graphics throughout.
Team Bank
The ‘Team Bank’ pack consists of five colorways—black, white, red, royal blue and navy—with Durant following in the footsteps of Paul George who had previous TB releases.
Kevin Durant Sneaker FAQ
Who designed the Kevin Durant shoes?
The Kevin Durant KD line is designed by Nike Basketball designers Leo Chang and Ben Nethongkome.
What are Kevin Durant shoes best for?
Kevin Durant’s shoes are best for playing basketball in, but can also be worn in a lifestyle context because of their low profile.
When did Kevin Durant shoes come out?
Kevin Durant’s KD line debuted with Nike in 2008.
Who makes Kevin Durant shoes?
Nike makes Kevin Durant’s KD shoes.
What sizes do Kevin Durant shoes come in?
Kevin Durant’s latest KD 17 shoe runs from size 3.5 through 18 in US men’s sizing.
What new Kevin Durant shoes are coming out?
Upcoming and recent KD sneaker releases include:
How to clean Kevin Durant shoes?
Kevin Durant’s shoes respond well to most specialist cleaning products. For more information, consult our How to Clean Sneakers guide.
Where to buy Kevin Durant shoes?
You can buy KD’s signature KD shoes on GOAT.
How to tell if Kevin Durant shoes are fake?
GOAT uses machine-learning technology, digital authentication, in-hand verification or a combination of these methods to determine if sneakers are fake or real. By doing so, we seek to ensure the KD shoes you purchase are both authentic and as-described.
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