NBA players have made it a Yuletide tradition to unveil new signature sneakers or the latest colorways of their shoes during the Christmas Day games. This year’s no exception, but in the case of Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving’s newest kicks, the Nike Kyrie 3 made such a grand debut.
Irving wasn’t the only one on the Cavs team with brand new shoes as LeBron James brought out his latest Nike sneaker, the LeBron 14. But the Cavs guard unveiled his kicks in the best possible way: making the game-winning shot in a much-anticipated match against a retooled Golden State Warriors team.
Switching to the Kyrie 3 ‘Samurai’ in the second half, Irving drained a contested jumper over Klay Thompson for a 109-108 win against the Warriors in their Christmas Day showdown. Irving posted 25 points and 10 assists in his new signature kicks.
The Nike Kyrie 3 ‘Samurai’ was actually a Nike Mystery Release for Christmas Day and the model has sold out in limited release via the SNKRS app where it retailed for $120.
Featuring a crimson splatter pattern on a black upper and a silver, katana-inspired Swoosh on the quarter, the sneaker has yet to be announced for a wider release.
Meanwhile after months of speculation, James unveiled the Nike LeBron 4 with a 31-point and 13-rebound performance.
According to Nike, the new shoe is equipped with Zoom Air unit pods in the outsole for cushioning, a dual-zone composite upper for a close fit and a midfoot strap for a lockdown fit. No release information has also been made.
On the other hand, Stephen Curry wore the Under Armour Curry 3 ‘Red Hot Santa’ with a bold vermillion upper on top of a crystal midsole with crimson spackle. The $140 shoes are part of a Christmas 3-pack that were made available in UA stores and online via UA.com.
Curry’s fellow ‘Splash Brother’ Thompson also joined in with a multi-hued version of his Anta KT2 appropriately dubbed the ‘Christmas’ colorway.
Adidas also featured a tweak on its Christmas-themed kicks with the reflective D Rose 7 that could have been inspired by Christmas balls and tinsel as showcased by New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose.
