Matt Varga It’s tough for an NBA season to start with more fireworks than what we witnessed for NBC’s first night back on the hardwood. The 2OT instant classic between the Thunder and the Rockets birthed tons of high-octane moments, from Kevin Durant’s Chris Webber moment that wasn’t to the small-screen return of Michael Jordan. Given the name, it was hard to pull our attention off of ground level, and there was plenty to take in there — including Chet Holmgren’s PE version, the Nike KD 18 “Thunder And Reign.”
Seeing as the Slim Reaper was greeted with boos from the OKC crowd nearly every time he touched the ball, Holmgren’s variation on the silhouette could be interpreted as salt in the wound, but the third-year player has been an outspoken advocate of both the performance line and its namesake the whole way through. This variation is no doubt a step up in terms of things running the opposite direction, as this is Chet’s shoe through and through, following in the mold of kicks like Jordan Poole’s or Jewell Loyd’s GT Cut 3. The center’s variation is just as eye-catching as those predecessors, coated in violet from heel to toe with cheetah print interruptions on the Swoosh and branching overlays between, stamped as Chet’s with a “CH” thunder logo on the tongue.
Similar to Poole and Loyd, Holmgren won’t keep this version exclusive to his closet for long. The public will eventually be able to get their hands on the Chet Holmgren Nike KD 18 “Thunder And Reign” on March 13th, 2026. Trust that we’ll be all over this story once a more specific date comes to light, but for now, check out up-close shots of this shoe below.
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” Nike Basketball
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” Nike Basketball
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision
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- Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision
WHERE TO BUY
Mens Chet Holmgren x Nike KD 18 "Thunder & Reign"
US 03/13/2026 Friday
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
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| DICK'S | Standard | Check Site |
| Foot Locker | Standard | Check Site |
| Nike SNKRS | Standard | Check Site |
