Kyrie Irving would receive his very first signature sneaker from Nike in 2014. He would receive 7 signature models from Nike during his partnership with the brand. Here is a complete guide of the Nike and Kyrie signature series.
1
Irving was the 20 basketball player to earn a signature shoe. Before Irving, Nike had paused bringing in new signature ballers, with Kevin Durant being the last to receive a basketball shoe in 2007. The 1 features Hyperfuse and Zoom Air tech. The design of the shoe is filled with easter eggs that pay tribute to Kyrie’s youth. The silhouette has a three-quarter height, which is a cut Irving personally wanted. The Nike Kyrie 1 had a lot of interesting releases, filled with storytelling.
2
The Nike Kyrie II was designed to fit the quickness of the great Kyrie Irving. The curved sole and Zoom Air are present in the shoe for the Point Guard’s quick movements. The strap is placed to keep the heel in place. The II, like the I, was designed by Leo Chang. Kyrie Irving had a love of donuts, like we all do, especially Krispy Kreme donuts. Nike celebrated his obsession with the Nike Kyrie “Ky-Rispy Kreme.” The shoe featured a color makeup that replicated the colors of the Krispy Kreme logo.
3
The Nike Kyrie 3 debuted in 2016. The Kyrie line was built for the guard’s explosive and multidirectional game. There is enhanced traction with two pivot points with a toe to heel herringbone pattern on the outsole for grip. There is a Zoom Air capsule in the heel. There is messaging and easter eggs dedicated to Kyrie and his life. The Kyrie III is one of the more beloved Kyrie x Nike silhouettes.
4
Ben Nethongkome designed the Kyrie IV. By 2017, Kyrie was one of the elite players in the NBA and a World Champion. Every Kyrie shoe set out to make a strong silhouette that was stable. The IV was specifically crafted for the herky-jerky game of Irving. Nethongkome and Nike introduced the Flex Groove outsole that had a zigzag cutout on the bottom. This allowed for enhanced traction and flexibility.
5
The Nike Kyrie 5 features a flexible and supportive style. The shoe had an Air Zoom Turbo airbag in the footbed, this addition to the line was perfect for the chaotic style of play Kyrie embraces. His game is all about starting and stopping quickly. The V was made to accommodate him. The shoe had a lacing system that was inspired by a Venus flytrap. In 2019, Nike created a shoe that was dedicated to the sitcom classic, Friends. The canvas for the partnership was Nike’s Kyrie 5.
6
Nethongkome designed the Kyrie 6. Like other shoes in the series, the 6 took design cues from Nike sneakers of the past. Irving has a love and passion for vintage sneakers. The style was 90s inspired, but the tech was modernized for the game of Kyrie. The shoes used Air Zoom Turbo, just like the Kyrie 5 did. There was added 360 traction grip for heightened court feel and a strap for mid-foot support.
7
The Nike Kyrie VII was released in 2020. There is a Zoom Air Heel in the VII. There were a lot of personal touches from the life of Irving added to the shoe. Sadly, this was the last time Nike and Kyrie would work together on a signature shoe. For a lot of different reasons, all of which are not completely clear, the two sides decided to end their successful relationship after the VII. The Nike x Kyrie series in a legendary basketball partnership.
- Adam C. Better
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