20 Years Of Nike Basketball: A Look Back At The Zoom KD IV

There is no denying that the Zoom KD IV is easily Kevin Durant's best sneaker to date. Since its launch last fall the shoe has become a fan favorite with colorways like the Aunt Pearl, NERF and Weatherman all serving as highlights. Although relatively new the silhouette's  achievements are a first for a sneaker with such a low cut and a strapped fit. Designer Leo Chang credits Durant's humble nature and desires for creating the the perfect sneaker in his honor. As you will read in the attached words from Nike, Durant wanted something "light and tight" thus giving way to the idea which sparked Chang's mind. Click through the photos and let us know your thoughts on Nike's decision to include these on the 20 year recap.

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“It’s about simply communicating the features of the shoe — everything has a purpose.”- Leo Chang

The signature shoe needs to reflect the athlete’s personality as well as his or her needs. Kevin Durant’s KD line has to encapsulate his remarkable versatility as well as his humble nature — confident without cockiness — resulting in designs made for all-around play and a complete range of motion. The Nike Zoom KD IV’s lead designer Leo Chang has worked with Durant since the start and sums up this shoe as “A shoe that’s stripped down to his essence — nothing more, nothing less.”

Nike is keeping pace with Kevin’s career with an evolving range of shoes that cater to him as he becomes increasingly more powerful and adds new skills to his arsenal. The Nike Zoom KD IV coincided with Durant’s new achievements and MVP status. Kevin’s main needs are simple, though. In an exchange with Leo, Durant exclaimed, “I want it light and I want it tight to my foot. That’s the key thing. Light and tight!”

As part of a silhouette that’s lower than before to give Kevin some extra freedom, versatile lockdown is embodied in the Nike Zoom KD IV’s key feature, the Adaptive Fit strap. Despite Durant’s request to go strap-free for this shoe, one glimpse at Leo’s design elicited a positive response. Functionally, the Adaptive Fit strap conforms to the arch, an area where KD has asked for added support because his arch is flatter.

There’s personal stories told in the Nike Zoom KD IV too. The detailing commemorates Kevin’s relationship with his family, his first coach, Big Chucky, D.C. and his home city, Seat Pleasant, Md. The Nike Zoom KD IV is a shoe that matches the identity of its namesake — perhaps it’s slightly unassuming, but it has earned the right to be mentioned along the game’s greats.