Nike Basketball and Kevin Durant Hit the Dagger With the Launch of the KD19

Nike Basketball and Kevin Durant are back with his 19th signature shoe: a visually striking design that’s engineered for ultimate responsiveness, comfort and containment.

Built with equal attention to head-turning style and on-court dominance, the Nike KD19 ushers in the latest chapter of Kevin’s signature athlete journey with an innovative, multilayered cushioning system and exterior TPU dagger that calls to mind Kevin’s “Slim Reaper” persona.

“Across basketball, few players are as smooth or as dangerous from anywhere on the court as Kevin Durant,” says Ross Klein, VP, Creative Director, Nike Basketball. “The KD19 embodies that edge: visually distinct, built for instant responsiveness and all-game comfort, helping players get to any spot and knock down any shot." 

Kevin’s latest signature shoe features a multilayer cushioning system built around the return of a full-length Zoom Strobel: pinnacle Nike Basketball technology first introduced in the KD12. This innovation pairs with a 3D-molded sock liner and plush Cushlon 3.0 midsole, delivering supreme comfort that enables the sense of effortlessness at the center of Kevin's game.

Complementing this cushioning system is a midfoot shank that ensures standout stability while giving the shoe a durable form built for the rigors of buzzer-to-buzzer performance.

The upper is defined by an exterior TPU engineered using an innovative dual-injection process. The first injection creates the molding for critical heel and midfoot lockdown, while the second achieves the silhouette’s distinctive dagger shape — built to help Kevin and players like him drain crucial shots with style.

A textile tongue offers peak breathability, and KD-specific details, such as a combination of his 35 and 7 jersey numbers on the outsole, round out the silhouette.

The innovation and style of the KD19 reflects Nike’s unparalleled commitment to basketball, its athletes and the culture of the game.

By committing to listening to the voices of athletes — girls, boys, women and men, from the EYBL to the highest levels of the game — Nike is creating the future of basketball footwear, with industry-leading silhouettes along the spectrum of feel that accentuate the way players use their athleticism to their competitive advantage.

Nike complements these footwear innovations with colorway stories, materials and finishes that match the bold and confident energy the next generation of hoopers brings to the court.

By creating the best for the best, then delivering it to those who love the game the most, Nike is championing the players at the heart of basketball, powering the future of the game and fueling basketball culture — serving Kevin and other elite hoopers alongside the next generation of athletes and fans.

The Nike KD19, first unveiled on-court March 16, will be available June 13 exclusively on SNKRS before launching globally June 17.