The Nike Kyrie 6 Is Ready To Dominate On And Off The Court…Again

Everything about Kyrie Irving is against the grain. He defies the laws of physics with his ridiculous footwork and the crazy english he puts on the basketball. He might still believe the earth is flat, and he has the FRIENDS tv show logo tatted on his arm. It’s clear that he was programmed by his maker to go in the opposite direction of what’s natural to humans. Even in this era where basketball kicks just don’t move the needle like they used to, Irving’s signature shoe was one of the most talked about models of the year, largely due to the thoughtful collaborations with small-time labels such as Rokit and Bandulu and the globally renowned entity known as Spongebob Squarepants. Here’s the best part: the Kyrie 6 is even better.

Officially unveiled today by Nike is Kyrie’s sixth model and third straight designed by Ben Nethongkome (who was handed the reins by Leo Chang after the third model). Much of the performance aspects of the shoe remain, including a forefoot Zoom Turbo cushioning unit (240% more Zoom than the Kyrie 1 Zoom unit), a 360 Traction lay-out that wraps up the sidewalls to counteract his tendency to drag his feet, and a thicker padded tongue similar to SBs. What’s new is a mid-foot strap, cone-shaped micro nubs that fortify the area above the big toe, and a plush foam underfoot that adds optimal cushioning for the last that is dropped half a centimeter. The Kyrie 6 is fully decorated with symbolism close to his heart, including his “Humble and Hungry” mantra on the tongue, the seeing eye iconography, and his mother’s name embedded into a focal point of the traction layout.

What makes the Kyrie 6 such an appealing shoe off the court is the mixture of materials that are typically found in today’s most fashionable sneakers. Leather, mesh, and suede offer up a package that sneakerheads are more comfortable with, opposed to the chintzy synthetics that were overused in the mid-2010s. The Kyrie 6 is said to be inspired by one of Kyrie’s favorite shoes, and we can only assume that model is the Air Yeezy 2, a shoe that the Nets star has consistently rotated since the shoe’s initial release in 2012.

The Nike Kyrie 6 “Jet Black” is officially ready to drop on November 22nd for $130, with several energetic styles already in the works as well. Stay tuned for more updates and check the official images and sketches here to get familiar.