John Kim 
Kyrie Irving isn’t the average 24-year-old dude. The more obvious credentials to review are his world championship ring, his Olympic Gold Medal, and his wildly popular Nike shoes, now at the Kyrie 3. He’s accomplished enough already early on in his career that basketball experts and historians project multiple rings and the Hall Of Fame in his future. But what makes him truly different from others his age is his approach to the grander scheme of life and his journey towards finding inner peace and self-purpose is.
The Kyrie 3 is what you’d expect from Nike; it’s designed with a thorough analysis of Irving’s evolving on-court play and made concrete with performance technology that has been nearly perfected by the brand. Looking good with a pair of jeans comes secondary to being in tune with the athlete during activity. Thankfully, it does both. The shoe itself was created by a committee of Nike designers, with several distinct minds contributing new ideas and combining them with the proven success of the earlier models.
The third Kyrie shoe catapults from what has worked so well with the first two Nike Kyrie installments – the curved outsole, Zoom Air – and adds on two independent traction pods at the forefoot and an integrated forefoot band. The pods on the lateral and medial forefoot are emphasized with bright colors, while Dynamic Flywire cables aid with the lockdown on the forefoot band.
The Kyrie 3 is rife with personal details as well; returning is the “JBY” logo, representing Kyrie’s personal “Just Be Yourself” motto, and “H+H”, the “Hungry and Humble” message passed down from his father Drederick. Roman numerals VIII and XIII represent his late mother’s birthday on August 13th; the same graphic is tattooed on Kyrie’s wrists. Finally, his daughter’s name Azurie as well as his mother’s name Elizabeth can be found outside the visible Zoom Air window on the sole.
The Nike Kyrie 3 “Black Ice” will release on December 26th, 2016 with an MSRP of $120. Kyrie is expected to debut the shoes during the Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors. Additional Kyrie 3 colorways are set for a release on January 14th (Team Red).
Nike Kyrie 3
Color: Black/Total Crimson-Dark Grey-White
Style Code: 852395-018
Release Date: December 26th, 2016
Price: $120
Where to Buy the Nike Kyrie 3 “Black Ice”
Outsole curvature allows for quick transitions on medial and lateral edges
Traction pods on lateral and medial forefoot aid in hard cuts
Kyrie’s daughter Azurie and late mother Elizabeth honored next to visible Zoom Air window
“Just be yourself” and “Hungry and humble”
Forefoot band bolstered by Dynamic Flywire
VIII and XIII, a tribute to Elizabeth Irving’s birthday
Nike Kyrie 3 “Black Ice” shoebox
Nike Kyrie 3 official tech-sheet
