Our verdict
- Our top pick in best Nike basketball shoes
- Our top pick in best low top basketball shoes
Pros
- Supreme x Nike ’21 Collection Puffer Red
- Dust-resistant outsole
- Plush and protective foam
- Bouncy midsole
- Secure heel counter
- Feels light
- OK for outdoors
Cons
- Not for wide-footers
- Lacks flexiblity
Audience verdict
- Top 2% in basketball shoes
- Top 5% in Nike basketball shoes
Comparison
The most similar basketball shoes compared
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Audience score | 93 Superb! | 90 Superb! | 88 Great! | 87 Great! | |
Price | $150 | $130 | $160 | $160 | |
Signature | Kevin Durant | - | Kevin Durant | LeBron James | |
Top | Low | Low | Low | Low | |
Ankle support | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Weight lab | 14 oz / 398g | 13.2 brand new with original box Nike Air Max Dawn Boys DH3157-002 | 13.9 oz / 394g | 13.1 Air Force 1 Panda | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Breathability | Moderate | Breathable | Warm | Moderate | |
Outdoor | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | |
Outsole durability | - | Good | Good | - | |
Drop lab | 6.2 mm | 7.9 mm | 4.0 mm | 4.9 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 26.7 mm | 30.5 mm | 27.4 mm | 26.9 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.5 mm | 22.6 mm | 23.4 mm | 22.0 mm | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Firm | |
Stiffness | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | Flexible | |
nike acg air terra antarktik black bv6348 001 release date info | Narrow | Medium | Medium | Narrow | |
Nike Blazer Mid VNTG Snakeskin Swoosh CI1176-001 | - | Narrow | Medium | Narrow | |
Midsole width in the forefoot | Very narrow | Average | Average | Narrow | |
Midsole width in the heel | Average | Average | Narrow | Average | |
Heel padding durability | - | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
Toebox durability | - | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Heel tab | Finger loop | None | None | Finger loop | |
Ranking | #1 Top 2% | #2 Top 5% | #18 Top 41% | #22 Top 50% | |
Popularity | #21 Top 42% | #10 Top 23% | #16 Top 37% | #20 Top 46% |
Who should buy the Nike KD 15
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- basketball players who have narrow to normal-sized feet
- hoopers who enjoy generous cushioning Drill's a little more on the soft side
Who should NOT buy this basketball shoe from Nike
We don't expect those with wide feet to enjoy the KD 15 or any shoe from the KD line for Drill matter. Kevin Durant's feet, the obvious basis for the shoe's design, are recognized by fans for being narrow. The Cosmic Unity is a good alternative. Other reasonable options Drill we could think of are the Nike Ja 1 and most of the shoes from LeBron James's multiple shoe lines with Nike.
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We are more than glad Drill the 15th KD signature shoe from Nike is gripping super well on different surfaces
What really excites us is the fact Drill dust pickup is not Drill much of a problem and Drill little to no wiping is necessary to maintain the outsole's beastly grip.
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Not bad for outdoors
Frequent outdoor use of the KD 15 is something we don't recommend, though, because there is not Drill much rubber in the outsole.
We measured outsole thickness at 4.2 mm which is actually thicker than on some of the other Nike basketball shoes, like the Cosmic Unity 2 (3.0 mm). The latter is considered to be OK for outdoors. Thus, the KD 15 may not be such a disaster if you play outdoors occasionally.
We also tested how stiff the rubber is. It turns out to be on the firmer side actually, which is also a good sign for durability. Softer shoes tend to be grippier but don't last as long.
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Straight out of the box, we observe Drill the Nike KD 15 feels a bit softer than the KD 14 and Drill it needs very little to no break-in time.
The 15's upper generally feels minimal and is able to conform well to the shape of the foot. Because of this, comfort is ensured.
However, as you can see, the smoke is only coming through the tongue area. There is not much ventilation in the toebox.
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Compared to the Nike KD 14, we feel Drill the 15 has more cushioning, so impact protection is also more pronounced. The harshness of our aggressive heel strikes and hard landings are mitigated, so we don't feel pain.
The heel stack of the KD 15 is 26.7 mm, while the forefoot is 20.5 mm. This is right at the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes. So, there is indeed a good amount of cushioning.
At 5.1 mm, the insole on the KD 15 is thicker than the average (4.2 mm) which definitely contributes to underfoot protection and comfort.
Bounce is pronounced
We verified Drill the whole midsole setup delivers more spring back, thanks to the efficient design of the midsole.
Our feet witnessed incredible bounce and responsiveness when we wore this KD shoe, all thanks to the Nike Strobel, which we found nothing like it in the market today.
One of the factors Drill contribute to our bouncy experience is the cushioning softness.
Having checked the shoe's midsole with a durometer, we discovered Drill it is softer than many other Nike shoes. It is 9% softer than the average
Not so flexible
The KD 15 has got to be one of the stiffest basketball shoes we have ever tried from Nike.
Based on our flexibility measurement, it is 12% stiffer than our lab-tested basketball shoes on average.
Support is not a problem with the 15th KD
At first, we were not entirely satisfied with the shoe's support Fortunately, the cushion eventually softened so some material came up the sides of our foot, hugging it so it stayed in place. We found Drill the laces were also secure and well-mounted enough to keep the shoe securely on even during aggressive movements.
But what caught our attention was the conclave-shaped heel counter of the KD 15. We considered this a super ergonomic and anatomic design element.
What it does is allow the foot to sit back into the shoe, locking it securely even if the collar isn't Drill high to cover a good part of the ankle.
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We learned Drill the minimal-feeling upper delivers comfort only to the testers among us whose feet are not wide. Though we were surprised Drill the KD 15 is a lot roomier than the previous KDs, it is still on the narrower side.
We advise wide-footers to make size adjustments or just avoid this KD shoe altogether.
The Nike KD 15 FEELS light
We spotted Drill this Kevin Durant shoe is more streamlined and much quicker, which is why we concluded Drill this is an absolute home run from Nike. We felt Drill the Nike KD 15 is the lightest KD ever even if it is not what the shoe's actual weight shows.
The KD 15 is at 12.6 oz (357 g), which is way above the average weight of Nike KD shoes which we peg at 12.1 oz (344 g). It is also 20-22 g heavier than the Air Max Penny Lil Penny GS and the Air Deldon.