Looking Back at the Return of the Iconic Nike KD 4 in Retro Form

This story appears in SLAM KICKS 27. Get your copy here.

It was everything we could have dreamed of. One by one, the 2024 NBA All-Stars from the East and West walked from the tunnel to the court. It was February 18, 2024. Everyone was as fit as possible. The King debuted a hybrid Nike LeBron 21 paired with Deion Sanders’ monochrome Nike Air DT Max. Stephen Curry has been rocking his signature Curry 4 Low FloTro. The minerals were pure. And then the metal finish glistens under the lights of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Facing a half-red, blue-striped game warm-up, Kevin Durant sent everyone—including us—into feverish territory. A series of social media posts that followed echoed the culture-shaking moments from NikeTalk’s popularity. Bright orange Swooshes are stamped on the strap and mid heel. A cool kid with green speckles atop a jet-black midsole that shows off the depth of space. A reflective, glow-in-the-dark outsole sits just below. And under the hood, a beautiful galaxy of stars, big bangs and wormholes extend to the insoles.

For the first time since 2012, Kevin Durant wore the KD 4. And this was not unlike him kicking it on the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 OG Lows from his favorite rotation. The two-time NBA champion was dropping buckets in the Zoom-cushioned silhouette just like he did 12 years ago.

Throughout the first half, we got to watch KD play in what has always been heralded as the best sneaker in his signature long line. We saw history repeating itself in real time. Top of the three essentials, alley-oop reverse lays and no-look assists on the perimeter. Different jersey, different city and a few more grays in the beard, but the kicks weren’t quite the same.

We are serious, the directly the same. Kevin Durant’s retro run is just that: retro. This isn’t the same ethos that surrounds Kobe Bryant’s Protro pairs that have been retooled for the modern game. The 4 features the same smooth TPU strap, full-length Zoom Air cushioning and monomesh midfoot windows masterfully assembled by Leo Chang at Beaverton.

On a holy night in Orlando ten years ago, the world watched a 23-year-old Durant stamp his undying love for the game in his third All-Star appearance. Thirty-six points, 7 boards, 3 rebounds and 3 steals = MVP. Fast forward 12 years, and the shoe was not tied to KD’s feet as he poured in 18 points with surgery; also placed in a secure display case at CORPORATE on McCrea St.

Everyone knows about the different times of the NBA season. But for sneaker brands, All-Star Weekend is the highlight of the year. Budgets are allocated, plans are set and venues are booked months and months in advance. Personal activation is the name of the game, marrying newly released products with experiential moments. Customizable gear is worth its money. Then there are the true sneakerheads, who search pop-up shops and local stores for the weekend’s holy grail.

Last February in Indianapolis, everyone was on the hunt for a pair that Durant would wear a few days later.

The tonal beige and brown “Year of the Dragon 2.0” colorway may have officially kicked off the renaissance in early February, but the “Galaxy” was the first. the original colorway from what looks like the 2011-12 run that the Swoosh brought back to the market. The collapse of the panic on February 15 opened the stage for the return of popular songs.

As we mentioned last year at KICKS 26, Nike didn’t hang it like they did.
did with the 2018 release of the KD 4 “Thunderstruck” after Durant and the Warriors captured the title. The Swoosh went through the catalog and handpicked the best. Nothing but haymakers for months.

At the end of May, we were blessed with the “Weatherman” joints of the scene as images of cargo pants and sneakers were combined in colors that screamed of the past. By the time you get hold of this magazine, what some consider the most revered colorway of Durant’s 17 signature sneakers will be back, along with the beauty of rubber bullets and plastic magazines. The KD 4 “Nerf” is upon us. And while it won’t be housed in the same square box that housed the cardboard mini hoop and foam basketball, those same blue, gray, orange and volt pops will be bringing back memories of being tied to the locker door with all–star-caliber tournaments. dunk in their children’s rooms.

Releases were timely but staggered, allowing more than enough breathing room between each pull to rekindle the deep love that exists for that midfoot band. Nike knows they’ve got us wrong. That’s why they’ll reportedly cap off the 4s retro run with a duo of bangers, a copper and black “Christmas” colorway and a heart-tugging version of “Aunt Pearl”—the first in a series that now consists of 13 silhouettes. dedicated to KD’s late aunt.

The past seven months have been a series of nostalgia-induced trips down memory lane. We have been living in the same reality we dreamed of a few years ago. It returns to the streets, courts and closets around the world. Lucky for us, the story of 4 continues.

Photos via Getty Images and Nike.