Pro hoops star Kyrie Irving‘s time playing college basketball at Duke was brief, playing for just one season before declaring for the NBA draft. But Nike‘s next Kyrie 5 sneaker release employs storytelling from his days with the Blue Devils.
The next iteration of Irving’s latest signature sneaker features a predominantly black upper with blue flame imagery, inspired by Irving’s ability to “ignite at any moment and unleash an inferno that leaves his opponents scorched.” The look is completed with a white midsole and a blue outsole.
![Nike Kyrie 5 "Duke"](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/nike-kyrie-5-duke-1.jpg)
For the Duke diehards, Nike placed the Blue Devils logo on the flytrap-inspired overlays and the school’s “D” logo and “1” (Irving’s number while on the team) on the heels.
Although Irving’s latest sneaker looks great, it’s a performance-driven silhouette first and foremost. To make it court ready, Nike executed the Kyrie 5 with its new energy-returning Air Zoom Turbo cushioning (which includes wider cushioning in the forefoot), a breathable and flexible engineered mesh upper and a curved outsole that wraps up the sides of the upper for optimal traction.
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The Nike Kyrie 5 “Duke” arrives Thursday via the SNKRS app starting at 10 a.m. ET and will retail for $130.
![Nike Kyrie 5 "Duke"](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/nike-kyrie-5-duke-2.jpg)
![Nike Kyrie 5 "Duke"](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/nike-kyrie-5-duke-3.jpg)
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