Nike KD 18“Air Bakin

Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 18 signature shoe launched in mid-February as part of the Black Label collection, officially beginning the lifecycle of his 18th Swoosh signature shoe. While the rest of the shoe won’t hit stores until April, we’ve already previewed the shoe via Durant’s on-court boots and this latest PE that ties in with his roots.

The upper features a bright red colorway, paired with a black sole and midsole, with hits of gold on the laces, Swoosh border, and midfoot. As it turns out, the colorway was inspired by the Air Bakin’, a 1997 basketball shoe designed by Eric Avar that would ultimately become one of the most controversial models in the brand’s history.

The public outcry stemmed from the design of the “AIR” on the heel; it was patterned to look like the word was engulfed in flames, but it resembled the Arabic word for “Allah.” Nike quickly pulled the shoe from its shelves and later released the shoe with the standard Nike Air logo. Air Bakin has become a big hit in the DMV area where Durant was born and raised.