KICKZ Performance Review: Nike KD15

Number fifteen for Kevin DURANT! That’s quite a milestone as this makes the Easy Money Sniper one of very few athletes that actually get to this number of signature sneakers. Personally, I have been wearing various KDs throughout the years and had quite a wide range of experiences in them. Both, good and bad. The KD13 and KD14 were however my absolute favorites of this signature line, with the former still being in my shoe rotation today. So I was definitely excited to get my hands on a pair of these to see what they are all about and if they could potentially replace my beloved KD13s 😁.

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Design

The most obvious design change is the switch from a mid to a low top. We have not seen a low cut silhouette in this line since the KD10. This could be a game changer for those that need more range of motion and less restrictions around the ankle area. Another visual change was the move away from the midfoot strap, which has kind of turned into an on and off feature for the DURANT signature series. What remains after those updates, is actually a pretty decent looking shoe, which will surely be released in multiple colorways. There should really be one for everybody. The one in this review is centered around the team colors of the Brooklyn Nets. Nothing too special, just a clean looking variation in my opinion. Checking the weight, the KD15 comes in at 397 g. Surprisingly it is a bit heavier than both of its direct predecessors, which were both designed as mid cuts. The difference is however not really significant, I would say. Especially as these feel quite light on foot.

Materials

Most of the upper is made of “multilayered mesh” as Nike states. In general though, they tried to reduce layers throughout the upper to strip away unnecessary weight. This was definitely a good move as it feels minimal on foot and broken-in directly out of the box. The materials moved flawlessly with any motion and conformed well to my feet. The 15s just simply felt good all around and I was comfortable in them from the get-go. This setup clearly gets the job done while not necessarily being the most premium materials or most sophisticated technology.

Traction

The traction is easily my favorite part of this shoe. I felt in control at all times as I did not experience any kind of sliding or lags in my stops or direction changes. Nike describes the construction of the outsole pattern as “an array of contoured ridges that bend and deflect in multiple directions to provide traction for every move”. And this really works out well. The grip is incredible and the hard bite would remain on dustier courts as well. This part of the KD15 is top-tier and may even be one of the best on the market right now. The only downside I could find, might be the outsole‘s durability on the blacktop. Taking these outdoors may not be the best idea in terms of longevity.

Cushion

This is another sensational aspect of this shoe. Once again, KD went with a full-length Air Zoom Strobel, which I liked a lot in both of the previous models. This time was no exception. Additionally, Nike surrounded the Zoom Strobel unit with their signature Cushlon foam to construct a cushioning setup with good bounce and impact protection without sacrificing too much court feel. The designers did a very good job of balancing those attributes and created an incredible step-in experience. While I personally liked this setup a lot, it seemed a bit too soft for me at times as it gave me some slight irritations around the Achilles area. But this really comes down to personal taste and your health condition. As someone with a long history of ankle injuries, these may simply not have been firm enough for me in the end.

Fit

No surprises here, the new KD is narrow once again. This time, however, not as snug as many of the previous DURANT models. I definitely had the feeling that more ballers would get away with their true size this time than in the years before. So for me, true to size was the way to go and this turned out well after a little break-in time. After that, the shoe fit perfectly and in combination with all the other great aspects of it, the KD15 felt very comfortable and my feet stayed locked in. Very solid.

Support

Support was solid. The whole concept around that snugness would basically not allow you to feel other than locked in. This in combination with its sturdy heel counter and a well constructed lacing system that „feeds through floating wings along the sides“ certainly helps to keep your feet in place. Talking to peers, I learned that some were experiencing heel slippages. Personally, I did not notice any of that. I felt locked down and secured. So this is less of a general characteristic of this shoe but more of an individual perception. I would have liked to see a wider base though. As mentioned above, we are once again dealing with a narrow shoe here. So something like an outrigger may give this whole setup even more stability. Additionally, I would have personally liked a bit more feedback around the ankle area. All in all though, the support features do a solid job.

Bottom Line

The 15s are without a doubt an interesting option to play in. While the price tag of EUR 150,- may be a bit steep, I think the performance features of this shoe really make up for it. Especially if you think about how elite the traction performs and how good the cushioning setup works. Both aspects are top-tier. Another pro is the altered silhouette. Moving back to a low cut version could open these up for different kinds of playing styles and positions. I think especially guards or wings that need a bit more freedom in their range of motion would appreciate these a lot. One of the best shoes on the market today.

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Any questions? Find me on Instagram at @ONEtothe2.