Although Kyrie Irving may be absent from this year's postseason due to injury, he is still making a splash in the footwear sector after images surfaced of what appears to be his next signature sneaker. This week, Sneakerhighway23 shared photos of what is believed to be the Nike Kyrie 7, revealing a new mid-top silhouette that is not far removed from Irving's previous models. According to the description on the insole, the shoe will feature a composite textile material, presumably on the upper, while the articulated Air Zoom Turbo cushioning unit from its predecessors remains in the forefoot of the midsole. Kobe Bryant's influence on Irving is well documented, and as a possible tribute to the Black Mamba, the quote "His Legacy Is Going to Live Forever" is etched on the heel. The work was led by the Nike NXT Advanced Design Studio, which, much like when Irving uses an improvised crossover to create space for a jumper, shows how data-driven geometry can create new lanes in performance. The studio is able to combine real-time game data with data collected during Irving's visits to the Nike Sports Research Lab, allowing him to fine-tune and improve his performance.
Kyrie Irving 7
Various images of speculated colorways of the model have gradually been floating around the internet over the past few weeks, but the Brooklyn point guard unofficially debuted it today alongside the unveiling of the Nets' Classic Edition uniforms. The patriotic threads seen below were worn by the NBA franchise 30 years ago for a single season when they were based in New Jersey. Spotted on Uncle Drew today appears to be a two-tone, hoops-ready shoe consisting of a predominantly black upper with contrasting white strokes through the Swoosh outlines, as well as heel insignias bearing the all-seeing eye, along with adjacent moon and sun silhouettes split across each foot. Today, Nike unveiled the seventh sneaker in Irving's signature line, the Kyrie 7. The model features a composite mesh upper that helps it feel lighter and also gives Irving flexibility where he needs it. A signature detail in Irving's line is the midfoot strap, which has now been replaced by two TPU "fingers" on the sides that symbolize an exercise his father taught him to strengthen his hands. What is familiar about this shoe is the articulated Air Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot, carried over from the previous model. The Kyrie 7 was designed by Ben Nethongkome, who has developed the footwear in Irving's line since the Kyrie 4. The Nike Kyrie 7 launches in four "Preheat" styles, including "Icons of Sport", "Expressions", "Soundwave" and "Special FX", on 11 November, followed by the "BK Black" colorway arriving on 23 November.
