Kyrie Irving’s signature sneaker line with Nike is among the most popular basketball shoes on the market (and among NBA players). The Kyrie 3 was the one that really took the line to a new level of popularity, and the Kyrie 4 made minor tweaks to the extremely comfortable on-court sneaker.
The Kyrie 5 will hit stores on November 22 in the “Black Magic” colorway, and it too features the familiar silhouette that Kyrie’s line has had in recent years and the look from the 3 to now is barely noticeable, just with some continual tweaking. The 5’s upper is more like the 3 than the 4, as the 4 had a more cushioned look on the back half.
The biggest difference the 5 has is the lacing containment system, introducing Flywire to the Kyrie line for the first time, as well as a Zoom cushioning bag in the forefoot (also a first), and a new traction pattern on the bottom.
The Kyrie 3 had a traditional herringbone traction pattern, while the 4 introduced the zig-zag cut down the middle of the outsole. The 5 takes its inspiration from the Hamsa tattoo on Irving’s left arm, and integrates a traction pattern designed to give the shoe traction and stability on cuts in any direction.
The lacing system is meant to complements the Zoom cushioning in the forefoot, using Flywire to provide enhanced stability in the forefoot where there’s now more cushioning and give in the midsole.
Overall, the Kyrie 5 features a familiar look with some upgrades and tweaks to enhance the performance aspects of what was already one of the best basketball sneakers to play in on the market. It’s not the first time Nike’s kept a similar silhouette and look to a signature sneaker once they find a formula that works, as Kobe Bryant’s sneakers rarely deviated from his preferred lowtop look, just with performance tweaks and technology updates.
