Chet Holmgren’s Nike KD 18 “Thunder And Reign” PE Will Release In 2026

Nodding to a dynasty in the making?

Matt Varga December 3rd, 2025 (updated)

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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.

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” Nike Basketball

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” Nike Basketball

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision

: Nike KD 18 “Thunder and Reign” @uninstructedvision

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WHERE TO BUY

Mens Chet Holmgren x Nike KD 18 "Thunder & Reign"

SKU: IO7519-500

RETAIL PRICE: $165

RELEASE DATE: Mar 13, 2026

US 03/13/2026 Friday

Retailer	Release type	Status
DICK'S	Standard	Check Site
Foot Locker	Standard	Check Site
Nike SNKRS	Standard	Check Site

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.