Nike Introduces the KYRIE 1

Nike’s 42-year legacy of signature athletes is bolstered today with the addition of its newest member, Kyrie Irving, and his first shoe, the KYRIE 1. “As a kid, imagining that I’d be in the Nike family with my own shoe was something that seemed almost unattainable,” said Irving. “Now that I’ve received the KYRIE 1 I’m honored to represent Nike and its next generation of players.”

Having worked on Kevin Durant’s latest iterations, lead designer Leo Chang aimed to develop a signature model that could matched Irving’s speed and quickness. It needed to be light, bold and responsive with the best traction Nike Basketball could offer. After months of testing, the KYRIE 1 delivers three primary benefits; pinpoint responsiveness with Nike Zoom Air cushioning in its forefoot, dynamic grip with a 360-degree dynamic traction pattern wrapping the shoe’s sidewall, and the support and breathability of a Hyperfuse construction.

As for its details, the tongue logo represents his inner strength and hunger to learn, the jagged pattern on the wrapped traction near the toe and heel counter draws inspiration from the Sydney Opera House in Irving’s homeland of Australia, and the acronym “JBY” stands for “Just Be You” – a motto Irving uses to inspire kids around the world.

While the KYRIE 1 is already available for customization on NIKEiD, the KYRIE 1 Dream colorway in black will be available in North America on December 23 and the Deceptive Red version will drop globally on January 10.