In February 2009, the KD 1 was officially released to the public. Unlike the other Nike signature shoes at the time, Durant’s shoes were priced at just $88 to draw in consumers who may not be as familiar with the second-year forward. The sneaker featured the same synthetic leather upper as other shoes at the time, as well as a traditional Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for extra responsiveness. A major plus on the sneaker was the XDR outsole, which is “extra durable” to withstand outdoor courts in addition to indoor hardwood.
During this 2008-09 season, Durant’s team moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Durant finished his first Thunder season averaging 25 points a game, while also showcasing his shooting skills for the first time by upping his 3-point shooting from 28% his rookie season to 42% during this second year. The future was looking bright though with Durant, and a rookie Russell Westbrook developing together for seasons to come.
