KD Celebrates 10 Years With the KD 10
For the 10th anniversary of Kevin Durant's signature sneaker, Nike's Leo Chang took the KD 9 and made it better. The design is similar enough that sneakerheads often call it the KD 9.5 or an elite version of the KD9 Elite, though there's more tech built into the shoe. When asked what three words he would choose to describe the shoe, Durant chose "Innovative. Stylish. Comfortable." They slip on easily and have a broken-in feel right out of the box. With a complete Flyknit upper, KD 10s have a snug, customized fit with plenty of flexibility and stretch.
The KD 10, also called the KD X, dropped on May 26, 2017, during the Western Conference finals. The Warriors were rolling to the championship, and KD was on his way to being named the NBA Finals MVP. Durant wore the blue Finals PE colorway to win the title in 2017. That colorway (897815-403) was released to the public in September 2017 to commemorate the championship and occasionally shows up on eBay for about $300. When Golden State repeated in 2018, Durant wore the "What The" colorway (AR4603-900), which can sell in the four digits on the resale market. The first colorways to hit the market were "Still KD" in White with a Chrome swoosh (897815-100) and "Anniversary" (897817-900), a Light Blue upper with a Multi-colored swoosh containing colors from all the teams in Durant's career. "Anniversary" is typically valued at up to $250. Early colorways were intentionally simplistic to represent the blank canvas of KD's future in the league.
Technology and Construction of the Nike KD 10
End-to-end Flyknit makes the KD 10 super comfortable and gives the shoe a premium look and feel. The sock-like construction has TPU infusions in key areas like the toe and heel to provide additional strength and stability. The collar and tongue are Flyknit as well, which makes the shoe very easy to slide into and remove, especially with the low cut of the collar. Overall, the design provides a dynamic fit that's extremely flexible, lightweight and breathable.
To ensure solid lockdown, Nike designed a unique lacing system that anchors the thick laces just above the Phylon midsole. The setup looks great, but some wearers report issues with lateral containment and a little foot pain when the laces are choked down. The shoe performs well when moving front to back, but there can be some foot slippage when making aggressive cuts side to side. The KD 10 fits true to size for most people. Sizing down by half a size is recommended for those with extremely narrow feet.
The KD 10's outsole has a circular pattern that provides excellent grip on clean indoor surfaces and for balling outside. Traction decreases on dusty courts but no more than with other shoes. Flex grooves allow the foot to move naturally and, in an improvement over the KD 9's outsole design, a slightly bulkier bridge across the groove at the forefoot improves stability and durability. The sole itself may be prone to fraying on rough or gritty surfaces.
The KD 10 has less cushioning than the KD 9. That may be because Nike lowered the PSI on the articulated full-length Zoom unit after reports of popped air units on the KD 9 surfaced. With only a 4mm offset between the heel and mid-foot, the Zoom is relatively flat. It still provides a good ride with great heel-to-toe transitions and impact protection. The outsole wraps slightly around the Zoom unit, so it may feel a little compressed at first. Firm and responsive out of the box, a short break-in period will release the bounce without sacrificing the court feel that comes from keeping the foot close to the ground.
Sought-After Colorways of the KD 10
Nike released 33 colorways on the KD 10 that included some perennial favorites like Black History Month (897817-003) and the pearl pink/white sail Aunt Pearl (AQ4110-600) that's named in honor of Durant's late aunt. The BHM colorway can fetch up to $350 on eBay, while Aunt Pearl sometimes lists in the $400 range. Other popular colorways include:
The KD 10 Oreo (897815-001) – Released in July 2017, the black/white colorway typically sells above its original $150 retail.
Released in February 2018, the colorful KD 10 All-Star (897817-400) is one of the later issues that has been seen in the neighborhood of $250 on eBay.
The black Blackout (897815-004) and Racer Blue (AV4899-414) colorways typically sell in the $175-$275 range while University Red (897815-600) and Platinum (897815-009) models frequently sell near their original $150 retail price.
The KD 10 is also available in kids' sizes. Popular colorways for boys include the City Edition (918365-402) and University Red (918365-600). Smaller sizes don't necessarily mean smaller prices — the City Edition can run close to $150 on eBay. As any sneakerhead will confirm, it's money well spent to equip budding talent with the only shoe that delivered championships to Kevin Durant.
Nike Release Dates, News and Articles
Step up your game with the latest Nike news, guides and releases on the eBay Sneakers Hub. From classic silhouettes to new Nike Dunk and Nike Air collaborations, you'll find everything you need to know to stay ahead of the game.