BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2009-- NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant showcase the next generation of footwear with the launch of the KD1, Durant’s first signature shoe with the brand. By taking a personal journey through Durant’s life, Nike designers seamlessly integrate superior performance with personal design touches.

Durant’s relentless work ethic is well noted and fundamental to the KD1 design. From the age of nine he has been a “gym rat” through and through, and the KD1 includes design details that reflect Durant’s determination. His strong work ethic has carried him from his amateur basketball playing days to life now in the league. Nike collaborated closely with Durant to create a signature shoe with performance and design at the forefront.

“Working with Nike on my first signature basketball shoe was a dream come true,” said Durant, consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and Washington, D.C. native. “My goal was to introduce a shoe that performs well, looks great and showcases my roots.”

Nike designers met with Durant to get to know his personality and sources of inspiration. The KD1 has many storytelling elements including:

• A postage stamp inspired design on the left tongue because Durant’s mother worked at the post office; a security badge is included on the right tongue for his father who worked as a security officer
• Symbols and numbers on the left outsole represent locations meaningful to Durant
• Elements that represent the hard-work ethic that he puts into his game, such as “1 hr defense drills, 1000 toe raises, grandma brings dinner to the gym” and “I never quit”

The KD1 shoe is a lightweight, well-cushioned and sleek men’s basketball shoe. Durant plays small forward and needs a lightweight shoe that can keep up with his quick sprints down the court. KD1 has a Nike Zoom unit and a lightweight injection phylon midsole for exceptional cushioning. It’s also equipped with plenty of flex grooves on the outsole that forwards need for multidirectional cuts.

The KD1 is now available in the United States at Nike.com, Hibbett Sporting Goods, Champs, Eastbay.com, Finish Line, The Sports Authority and Foot Locker. The suggested retail price is $88.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com.

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Source: NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc.
New York Media Relations, 212-367-4447