Brendan Dunne 
The Nike Basketball “Elite Team” collection will release on April 11th, 2014. The group includes the debut of the new Nike KD 6 Elite and the Nike LeBron 11 Elite, as well as the Kobe 9 Elite in a brand new purple and yellow colorway. LeBron James’ entry into the group is a slightly lower cut than the standard Nike LeBron 11 and features an external cage that will help to lock down his explosive style of play. On the Durant side of things the Nike KD 6 Elite Team loses a little bit of weight and slides in a full length Nike Zoom kit on bottom. The Kobe 9 Elite, however, has the same masterful build that we first saw with the NRG and Masterpiece releases earlier this year. Continue reading to see each of the sneakers from the upcoming Nike Basketball Elite Team collection and tell us in the comments which is your favorite.
Source: Nike INC
As basketball’s regular season winds down and the playoffs near, Nike’s vision for excellence hits a high point. The Nike Basketball Elite Series Team Collection represents the best for the best: footwear designed to the exact specifications of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.
Using premium materials, advanced construction and athlete insights, Nike Basketball’s design team proudly unveils its most technically advanced trio of signature shoes in one collection.
The collection includes the LEBRON 11 Elite, KOBE 9 Elite and KD VI Elite, all in hyperized hues of their respective team colors.
LEBRON 11 Elite Team
James’s physique and powerful play require a shoe that can withstand extreme torque and pressure, while maintaining breathability and a lightweight feel. The LEBRON 11 Elite Team edition is tailored to James’s game and is lightweight, sleek and strong. It represents an evolution of the LEBRON 11 that launched in October, now with a lower cut and new articulated external cage to keep him contained. The Hyperposite protection and dynamic Flywire in the upper combine with Lunarlon and Nike Zoom unit in the midsole to maximize performance.
KOBE 9 Elite Team
The performance standard of the KOBE 9 Elite Team is second to none. Originally launched at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles last December, the KOBE 9 Elite Team represents Bryant’s most provocative shoe to date. As the first Nike Basketball shoe featuring Flyknit, the KOBE 9 Elite Team maximizes innovation with Lunarlon, Dynamic Flywire and carbon fiber throughout. Its ultra-lightweight design enables natural motion, while providing the lockdown and responsiveness Bryant requires.
KD VI Elite Team
Kevin Durant’s initial response to the KD VI Elite Team says it all – he didn’t want to take them off. Shedding weight and increasing breathability, the KD VI Elite Team moves precisely and naturally with the foot. For the first time in a KD signature shoe, this new version boasts a full-length, visible Nike Zoom unit that runs through the entire midsole. Flywire technology, reinforced with Kevlar fibers, provides Durant with optimal lockdown. Designer Leo Chang’s vision to mimic the precision craftsmanship and fine details of a wristwatch are visually revealed in the KD VI Elite Team.
The Nike Basketball Elite Series Team Collection is available April 11 at Nike.com and select retail locations globally.
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