Home Basketball Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 3 ‘Aunt Pearl’ is his tribute to Late Aunt who passed

Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 3 ‘Aunt Pearl’ is his tribute to Late Aunt who passed

Basketball — 10/16/2023

Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns’ standout forward, is recognized for using his celebrity for a good cause. Apart from being a basketball legend, Durant represents hope for many in the never-ending battle against cancer. Durant’s journey began in 2000, the year he lost his Aunt Pearl to lung cancer.

Durant and Nike collaborated to create an annual tribute in the shape of the ‘Aunt Pearl’ sneakers. The first of these, an eye-catching Nike Zoom KD 4 in all-pink, was released in 2012. This shoe collection shows Aunt Pearl’s tremendous influence on Durant’s life. Today, fans can choose from twelve different sneaker styles, each of which replicates the previous year’s message of optimism and endurance.

This year’s homage has a nostalgic flavor to it. While every new signature model of Durant’s has had a ‘Aunt Pearl’ version, the 2023 design pays homage to the Nike Zoom KD 3, a sneaker Durant worn before the ‘Aunt Pearl’ series began.

Details about the Nike Zoom KD 3 ‘Aunt Pearl’

“Aunt Pearl is always in KD’s heart, wherever he goes, no matter what heights hoops takes him to,” according to the official Nike description. She is a source of inspiration for KD, a ray of light who pushed him to be the best he could be. Her unending love and legacy will carry on through her nephew and the Durant family in perpetuity. This all-pink design honors Aunt Pearl, who died of lung cancer in 2000, but inspires us all to keep fighting for a cure. “Developed in collaboration with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.”

This year’s sneaker comes in a lovely color combination of Medium Soft Pink, White, and Lotus Pink. Nike’s ground-breaking flywire technology is also included. The sides have a large white Nike swoosh, while the laces and lining are Lotus Pink. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund emblem appears on one tongue, while a merged Kevin Durant/Aunt Pearl logo appears on the heel.

For those interested in purchasing this historic shoe, the Nike Zoom KD 3 ‘Aunt Pearl’ will be available on Nike.com on October 27, 2023, at 10:00 p.m. ET. The release will also be available on the Nike SNKRS app. It will be available in both men’s and women’s sizes and will be priced at $130.