With the celebration of NBA's All-Star weekend, Nike Basketball unveiled their NYC All-Star Signature Shoes for LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving. These are the shoes that they will be wearing for the 64th NBA All-Star Game on February 15th at Madison Square Garden.
Each of these shoes are dedicated to the player as well as some of the attractions in New York City that has made it "the cultural capital of the world", as posted on a video that can be found on the NBC Sports site.
For example, the one inspired by Kevin Durant is the KD7, inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge with its hybrid combination of suspension and steel cable. The KD7 has a combination of "flywire and zoom cushioning" providing "stability and flexibility" like KD's moves on the court.
The Kyrie 1 uses City Hall Station as its inspiration, as it has similarities to the famed subway station with its looks of period mosaics and soaring arches. It's built to match the game-changing ability of Kyrie where "quickness meets brilliance".
The Lebron 12 is inspired by the Flatiron building, the one that has a triangular shape on Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and East 22nd Street, constructed in 1902. That building took advance of its strong steel construction, as does the shoe, taking advantage of unexpected angles. We have already covered them on a previous report. According to Kicks on Fire, The Nike LeBron collection has provided top of the line basketball sneakers for over a decade. The LeBron series is known for its distinctly colorful look, making them stand out. The sole of the shoe is particularly colorful with individual spots known as Nike Air Zoom Units.
As for the Kobe10 (aka the Kobe X), that one is from the famous Unisphere from the 1964 World's Fair. Like the World's Fair, it is about new materials and new ideas for the future. We have reported on the Kobe X before, which could be Kobe Bryant's last signature silhouette shoe. It has a black mesh upper with a geometric pattern on the medial sides. Then there will be some silver accents on the swoosh, tongue, and heel and a flash of some vibrant colors of orange and green on the sole.
According to the Cleveland.com site, a Nike Source has said that the players will wear their respective shoes during the game at Madison Square Garden. Kobe Bryant will not play as he is recovering from shoulder surgery.
The shoes will be available before the All-Star game, and they are available with a clothing line of matching colors. The KD1 and Kobe X will be available on February 13th, while the LeBron 12 and Kyrie 1 will be available the day after on February 14th. These shoes are available on Nike.com or at select retailers. The prices of them vary, but expect to pay around $200.00 for the Kobe X alone.
