When Nike first revealed the Kyrie 5 last November, they promised an emphasis on storytelling. The latest project involving Kyrie Irving's fifth signature sneaker does just that—albeit in rather unexpected fashion.
The Boston Celtics point guard has connected with Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, to create a take on the Kyrie 5 built for the tennis courts. The pair combines upper elements from the basketball silhouette with the NikeCourt Vapor X tennis shoe. Specific details carried over from the Kyrie 5 include the Venus Flytrap-inspired lockdown system over the laces and heel counter donning the all-seeing eye graphic that has been synonymous with Irving's signature line. The Swoosh branding on the side panel has also been tweaked to match up with the Kyrie 5 as well. A special logo that fuses the Nike Kyrie and NikeCourt logos is stamped on each tongue.
From a performance perspective, the shoe is still made for tennis. The low-top sits atop the midsole unit of the NikeCourt Vapor X. Kyrgios will wear the pair throughout the Australian Open that kicks off in Melbourne next week on Jan 14. Its colorway takes inspiration from Nike's tennis archive, specifically Andre Agassi's "Hot Lava" Air Tech Challenge 2. A white mesh upper is accented by black branding and Hot Lava detailing throughout. To celebrate the special project, Irving also debuted a matching one-of-one Kyrie 5 on the hardwood last night.
Look to grab the Kyrie Irving x Nick Kyrgios NikeCourt Vapor X "Kyrie 5" via Nike SNKRS and other select retailers on Monday Jan. 14 for $160.
Kyrie Irving x Nick Kyrgios NikeCourt Vapor X "Kyrie 5"
Release Date: 1/14/2019
Style #: BQ5952-100
Price: $160
