With a winning season under the team’s belt, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder were not content in just make the NBA Playoffs. OKC was raring to get to the postseason, just as Nike was raring to unveil the next KD sneaker.
The KD 3 was unveiled just 9 months after the KD 2, with a few notable updates to the shoe occurring. The same cushioning set-up with Zoom Air in the forefoot remained. What did change was the integration of Flywire and Hyperfuse near the midfoot, a departure from the synthetic leather seen on the KD 1 and 2. The entire basketball sneaker market at the time was trending towards these plastic-based materials that added strength and durability to the footwear. This includes models like the Nike Hyperdunk and Hyperfuse.
Another notable shift in the KD line was the new low-cut look on the KD 3. While Durant’s nearly 7-foot height would suggest that his playing style verged close to a plodding big-man, Kevin’s game was developing more towards quick drives and shooting jumpers. This lower collar helped cut weight and provided less restriction of the foot. This collar height seemingly is a favorite for KD, as almost every single signature shoe after the 3 features the lower cut.
You can find the Nike KD 3 at StockX, GOAT, and Flight Club.
