Meet the new designer for the Kyrie 4

Benjamin Nethongkome officially received the nod to take the helm of Irving’s signature line. Kicking off the Nike Kyrie 4 will be the “Confetti” colorway that releases this Saturday, December 16th, followed by the Black/White pair on December 20th.

Nethongkome and Irving first met on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, during a meeting to firm up release plans for the KYRIE 3. During the session, Nethongkome was announced as the future lead for the line, a major career step and one that wasn’t without chills.

Nethongkome’s ideas for the Nike Kyrie 4, which are based on Irving’s desire to improve underfoot cushioning (solved with the application of Cushlon midsole Zoom Air heel unit) while simultaneously making him quicker on the corner, are most overtly realized in the outsole’s zig-zag flex grove. Effectively decoupling the sole, this feature enhances traction and response from side to side, forming more seamless transitions. Once again, the outsole wraps up and around the foot, this time forming a fanged sidewall that emphasizes that the shoe was built for speed.

Secondarily, the material choices and blocking are influenced by Irving’s interest in vintage Nike and Jordan silhouettes — a passion shared with Nethongkome.

The Kyrie 4’s blocking follows suit. The forefoot is built of a zonally engineered mesh, an upgrade from previous KYRIE silhouettes and one that provides both containment and a softer feel. The transition to the heel introduces more classic materials — many versions of the Kyrie 4 will carry a suede or leather — which not only feel great but offer opportunity against a new challenge: how people watch the game today.

NIKE KYRIE 4 CONFETTI

Irving carries around a piece of confetti from the last game of the 2017 NBA Finals as a constant reminder of how it felt to fall short of victory. The Confetti colorway honors Kyrie’s win-or-learn mentality.

Look for the Nike Kyrie 4 “Confetti” to release on December 16th at select retailers and Nike.com. It’ll also be available at House of Hoops locations in Boston, Cambridge, Harlem and Wayne, New Jersey, as Irving laces up when the Celtics play the Jazz in Boston at 7:30PM EST.

NIKE KYRIE 4 BLACK WHITE

Look for the Nike Kyrie 4 Black/White to release on December 20th at select Nike Basketball retailers and Nike.com. The retail price tag is set at $120 USD.