The Nike Kyrie 6 won’t be available for another two weeks, but the Nets guard introduced it after Brooklyn’s win over New Orleans on Monday night. He chose the “Heal the World” version, which drew attention on the court and on the YES broadcast due to its multi-colored pattern, which included a third eye symbol. It and the other items in the range have a New York motif.

And just to be sure you didn’t miss it, Nike ran this advertisement… on 8th Avenue and 34th Street…

Meanwhile, The Undefeated spoke with the Nike sneaker designer who collaborated with Kyrie Irving on the product development process. It began more than two years ago, in the summer of 2017, in Seattle, where Irving was working out. According to Ben Nethongkome, it was a collective effort.

“We sat down and spent hours together designing the shoe,” Nethongkome remembered recently at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center. “Really just breaking out the pen and paper, pencils, tapes, and product.” It was a breath of fresh air to witness an athlete get down and dirty with you. On the court and in design sessions, Kyrie is a creative force. He’s not the type to sit in the back of the room and watch from a distance. He’s definitely down to business.”

According to Nethongkome, the Nike Kyrie 6 is the shoe that best represents Irving’s involvement in the process.

“What separates my Kyrie 6 from the rest of my line is really just the creative design behind it,” Irving told The Undefeated’s Aaron Dodson. “I’ve previously had a huge, huge hand in a lot of design processes.” But this is the one where I really, truly started in a hotel room with a number of ideas and boards, attempting to integrate a bunch of my favorite shoes and favorite ideas into one.”

According to Dodson, Irving is one of only six basketball players in Nike Basketball history — joining Charles Barkley, Sheryl Swoopes, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and, of course, teammate Kevin Durant — to receive six or more signature sneakers during his/her playing career, rather than after.

“My vision was just making sure we have a high-performance basketball shoe on court that doesn’t feel lesser than the previous models,” Nethongkome stated in a press release. “When I arrived at the table, I was like, ‘Hey, let’s just talk it through.'” “Kyrie, what do you want?”

Nethongkome explained that he wanted to start from scratch, looking at everything from Michael Jordan’s legendary brand of signature Air Jordan basketball sneakers to Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy range.

“This one was just a completely blank canvas,” Irving explained. “Let’s start from ground zero and let’s build this into a huge, huge art piece that we can be proud of,” Irving remarked.

The George Washington Bridge, which connects where Irving grew up and where he would play, was a significant design element to Irving. The GWB is a landmark near and dear to Irving’s heart.

“So many memories crossing the George Washington,” stated the writer. “I’m going to my aunt’s house or the Bronx.” I spent the entire day with my father. I’m sitting here watching him play basketball. I’m learning a lot from him. Being in several boroughs. Crossing that bridge and returning to Jersey. Understanding the difference in smell. Understand how you feel. Jersey and New York have different air.”

“He’s voiced to me that the Kyrie 6 is one of his most favorite Kyries up to date,” Nethongkome went on to say. “So if there’s just that emotional benefit from that alone, I feel like his game is gonna go even further.”

The Undefeated inquired, “What does Irving expect from himself on the court in his latest sneaker?”

“Just myself, man,” Irving explained. “Being exactly who I’m supposed to be … being that guy that leads his team.”