As Kevin Durant’s signature line hits legal age, a vast majorities of the colorways we’ve seen so far have been backwards-facing in one way or another. That’s been on two fronts, either reinterpreting Nike staples like on the Foamposite-like “Eggplant” or the “Air Bakin” edition, or in homages to seminal stops on the Slim Reaper’s journey. Now taking on to a tour that’s already taken his eighteenth signature through “Seat Pleasant,” OKC, and the “Rain City,” the MVP heads to Texas for the Nike KD 18 “Rise.”
Though the “Campfire Orange” plays a reserve role on this shoe, outlining its Humara-like side cages and dotting the branding notes, this colorway is undeniable as an homage to the Longhorns. The title, then, is an extremely natural one. Few may have predicte his “Rise” to a surefire Hall of Famer, but it was the dazzling combination of skill and size he flexed during his collegiate days that made him a can’t-miss prospect. In adapting that halcyon period onto his current signature, the Nike KD 18 opts for modernized tones, creating a neutral foundation of “Soft Pearl” and “Light Bone” that should make this pair a sensible choice even outside of Austin.
