“It’s about simply communicating the features of the shoe — everything has a purpose.”- Leo Chang
words // Zack Schlemmer
Although only the fourth shoe in Kevin Durant's signature line, the KD IV is so far the best. With a sleek and streamlined Hyperfuse upper and Adaptive Fit strap, the $95 KD IV has been a very successful shoe in a world of signature basketball shoes exceeding the $150 price point. The fact that it came in a slew of unique and creative colorways like the "Weatherman", "Nerf", "Aunt Pearl" and "Easter" editions sure didn't hurt its appeal either.
Nike is keeping pace with Kevin’s career with an evolving range of shoes that cater to him as he becomes increasingly more powerful and adds new skills to his arsenal. The Nike Zoom KD IV coincided with Durant’s new achievements and MVP status. Kevin’s main needs are simple, though. In an exchange with Leo, Durant exclaimed, “I want it light and I want it tight to my foot. That’s the key thing. Light and tight!”
As part of a silhouette that’s lower than before to give Kevin some extra freedom, versatile lockdown is embodied in the Nike Zoom KD IV’s key feature, the Adaptive Fit strap. Despite Durant’s request to go strap-free for this shoe, one glimpse at Leo’s design elicited a positive response. Functionally, the Adaptive Fit strap conforms to the arch, an area where KD has asked for added support because his arch is flatter.
There’s personal stories told in the Nike Zoom KD IV too. The detailing commemorates Kevin’s relationship with his family, his first coach, Big Chucky, D.C. and his home city, Seat Pleasant, Md. The Nike Zoom KD IV is a shoe that matches the identity of its namesake — perhaps it’s slightly unassuming, but it has earned the right to be mentioned along the game’s greats.
See the full story and even more pictures at NikeInc.com
