Nike KD II Performance Review

After watching the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers series, there is no doubt Kevin Durant will be one of the better players of this decade. Likewise, his signature sneaker line is destined for greatness as well. This season, the Nike KD II has been one of the more impressive and player-friendly sneakers on the market.

Although it doesn’t receive as much attention as other signature sneakers such as the Nike Air Max LeBron VII and the Nike Zoom Kobe V, it is undoubtedly not far behind those aforementioned sneakers performance-wise. With that said, check out our Nike KD II performance review to see why every basketball player should have these in the closet.

Strengths: When we interviewed Kevin Durant’s former college teammate DJ Augustin last summer, we wondered why he spoke so poorly of the Nike KD1, yet raved about the Nike KD II: “I didn?t like them (in regards to the Nike KD1). I told him they were ugly, but the new ones that are low-top with a strap across the middle are very nice though (Nike KD2). I like them. I don?t know if you have seen them yet but they?re nice.” – DJ Augustin.

It wasn’t the fact that the Nike KD1 was that atrocious; it’s more so foreshadowing that the Nike KD II is undoubtedly a remarkable basketball sneaker both design-wise and performance-wise. Priced at $85 (“All-Star” Nike KD II $95), the Nike KD II is definitely the basketball sneaker deal of the year. With that said, you are getting your money’s worth and more when investing in these. Yet, what are specifically obtaining when purchasing the Nike KD II you ask?

Kevin Durant’s second signature sneaker owns three player-friendly qualities that will enhance your play on the court: cushioning, stability and traction. First and foremost, every player wants to feel comfortable and at ease on the court, and this shoe assuredly aids one’s comfort level by providing an extreme amount of cushioning mainly in the forefoot. Nike Zoom Air technology provides responsive cushioning and allows the player to be quick on his/her feet laterally and vertically. For example, when going for a rebound, a player’s ‘second jump’ can be much quicker than others due to the KD IIs extreme amount of soft cushioning. Nike focusing more on the forefoot rather than the heel lines up with how the game is basically played these days. Most players are play on their toes 90% of the time during the course of a game; therefore, forefoot cushioning and stability are essential; as stated earlier, the Nike KD II specializes in both. As far as stability, this shoe possesses an attribute that we have seen on many sneakers over the years. Nike applied an enlarged midfoot strap upon Kevin Durant’s request. This particular element locks down the foot and literally marries your foot to the shoe. It prevents one’s foot from sliding around when making a sharp cut or pivoting quickly. Lastly, the Nike KD II was created with unbelievable traction thanks to the Nike Fit Rubber cupsole this shoe owns. The sole, which contains injection-molded Phylon, features an abundance of flex grooves which yields augmented traction and flexibility. We must applaud Nike for incorporating some of Kevin Durant’s personal details on the outsole all while maintaining a great level of traction.

Weaknesses: While the Nike KD II’s forefoot elements are second to none, its heel attributes lack tremendously. This is not totally a bad element considering basketball is played on your toes for the most part. However, those who rely on heel support may want to look elsewhere for a good basketball sneaker. Also, the Nike KD II is not a very breathable sneaker. As you can see, there are not many perforations anywhere on the upper.

Overview: Overall, the Nike KD II is one of the more player-friendly sneakers on the market. Its three-headed monster of cushioning, stability and traction gives this shoe an advantage over a lot of basketball sneakers out there performance-wise. Nevertheless, its design cues are also like nothing else on the market today. The 5/8ths cut, along with the midfoot strap and the injection-molded Phylon reminds us of vintage basketball sneakers that propelled Nike to the forefront of basketball.

Click here to view detailed photos of various Nike KD II colorways along with some shots of Durant his second signature sneaker on court.