Continuing a meaningful tradition that began in 2012, Kevin Durant and Nike Basketball have unveiled a 'What The Aunt Pearl' edition of Durant's KD 12. A heartfelt tribute to the late aunt of the Brooklyn Nets star, every 'Aunt Pearl' sneaker is dressed in pink and made with the help of the Nike-sponsored Kay Yow Cancer Fund. It started with the KD 4 and has continued ever since, but this time things are a little different. The KD 12 "What The Aunt Pearl" pulls various details from earlier releases, creating a physical look back at the progression of the Kevin Durant basketball shoes line.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant (born 29 September 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the University of Texas and was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics as the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He played nine seasons with the franchise, which became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, before signing with the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and winning back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018.
Previous features
With the exception of the KD 8, every Aunt Pearl model contributes a little piece of this new design. The pearl logo on the collar foam comes from the KD 4, and the hits on the sock liner come from the KD 5. The bold rose print wrapping around the heel comes straight from the KD 6, and the winged midfoot strap, perhaps the shoe's most striking detail, flew over from the KD 7. The embroidered heel emblem is from the KD 9, and the soft pink material on the collar, tongue and raised midfoot Swoosh is borrowed from the KD 10. Last but certainly not least, the marbled outsole is taken from the KD 11. Beyond the sheer abundance of lovingly crafted details, the KD 12's dynamic Flywire support and strobel-less midsole with full-length Zoom Air cushioning are all left intact, so the high-performance ethos stays the same. Although Kevin Durant is out for the entire NBA season as he works his way back from a torn Achilles suffered during last year's NBA Finals, the KD 12 "Aunt Pearl" will still make its usual winter debut on 24 October via Nike and select retailers. The price for the new Nike basketball shoes is set at around € 150 EU.
