Why Kyrie Irving Deserves a Signature Shoe.

In the world of sports, having your own line of product is definitely up there with winning championships. And for athletes, there's only a few things cooler than having a signature shoe. Basketball is one of the sports that relies on personalities and signature lines to sell shoes. Looking at the basketball shoe landscape, Nike has its big three of stars in LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant. Jordan Brand keeps Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul laced in their own kicks. Adidas has Derrick Rose, and a host of other brands pump out shoes for ballers like Dwayne Wade, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Love.

Every name up there is big, no doubt for their own accomplishments and contributions to the game. But there comes a time when you have to look to the future. And out of the all the budding stars in the NBA right now, there's no bigger name that deserves his own signature shoe other than Kyrie Irving.

Nike Basketball Elite Series Team Collection

The NBA season may slowly be winding down, but for some teams, the real battles loom ahead in the playoffs. With that, Nike Basketball is blessing LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant with sneakers geared for the grind of the postseason.

Nike Basketball "NOLA Gumbo League" Collection

Celebrating the unique culture of New Orleans - the venue of this year's NBA All Star Game, Nike Basketball is releasing a unique collection featuring the LeBron 11, KD6, and Kobe 9 Elite.

Personally, I'm really curious to see each shoe up close. The glow in the dark materials will certainly turn heads, but what's amazing for me is that the rich and unique designs of each shoe are what I'd say a fitting tribute to the vibrant culture of The Big Easy.

LeBron 11 "Gator King"

It can be argued that there isn't any better symbol of power and protection in New Orleans than the alligator. So it was only fitting for LeBron James' latest shoe to take influence from it. The "Gator King" is a fearless expression of both royalty and power. Hand-drawn patterns make up the Hyperposite areas of the shoes once it glows in the dark. Add that with majestic hues of deep purple, greens, and gold and you've got a shoe truly fit for a king.

Kobe 9 Elite "Maestro" 

Kobe Bryant may be meticulous when it comes to preparation, but he's also an expert when it comes to just going with the flow of the game. Deciphering its nuances, and coming up with moments of brilliance from sheer improvisation. Much like the great jazz musicians who came from the birthplace of the genre. Featuring brass accents in the upper, what really sets off the Kobe 9 Elite is the glow-in-the-dark outsole that comes to life at night, just when jazz clubs start to get into the swing of things. It's a shame we won't be seeing these on the feet of the Black Mamba come All Star Weekend though. 

KD6 "Illusion"

Inspired by the magic of New Orleans, fluid hand-drawn patterns on the shoe's upper pay tribute to the mesmerizing game of Kevin Durant. Big Chucky defies all perceptions of a near seven-footer, an illusion that leaves opposing teams scrambling to deal with his limitless range and on-court versatility. And finishing off the shoe is a special glow-in-the-dark outsole.

See that glow. 

The Nike Basketball "NOLA Gumbo League" Collection will make its way to retailers come February 14, so a lot of sneakerheads better start thinking about those Valentine's Day plans.

Think you can do something better than any or all shoes in the collection? Well now you can try! " Gumbo League" options are available on Nike ID for a limited time only!

Locally, there's no definite release date or set of mechanics as of yet, but I'll make sure to update once I get wind of anything so check back when you can!

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UPDATE 2/14/14

Save for a bit of a delay with the Kobe 9 "Maestro" release, 2 shoes that are part of the Nike "NOLA Gumbo League" Collection is dropping today (2/14/14) at Titan Shops+Webstore!

Prices are as follows:

Nike KD VI "Illusion" - P6995

Nike Lebron 11 "Gator King" - P9495

Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Maestro" - P9995 Coming Soon.

Nike Basketball 2013 Christmas Pack.

We're just a couple of days removed from the release of the Taxi 12 retros yet the holiday heat that's yet to be released just keeps on piling up. Featured today is the latest set of Christmas themed releases from all three signature athletes of Nike's Basketball line, namely Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant.

Nike Lebron 11 
I highly doubt Christmas in Miami is a snowy affair, but that snowflake print mixes really well with the chilly mint colorway and the bright red swoosh. Too bad Lebron won't be wearing these on court though.

KD VI

Predominantly Christmas red with accents of gold and mint green set off KD's latest signature sneaker in a festive way. The exterior may be eye-catching and all, but my favorite detail about it has got to be the subtle Christmas plaid inner lining.

Kobe 8 System

The bold design in itself is something that warrants a closer look. The spikes that aggressively jut out of the shoe don't remind me of snowflakes or shedding skin if that's what Nike wants to say. Instead, they look like icicles, representative of really cold winters and Kobe's on-court temperament. Not a bad way to make way for the coming of the Kobe 9.

As much as I'm biased to say Kobe's sneaker wins it by a mile, the entire pack doesn't have any weak shoes if you ask me! Pick up a pair or 3 when they drop in Titan, Nike, and Toby's shops in limited numbers on December 26!

The Nike KD VI

Kobe Bryant will always be my favorite basketball player, but that doesn’t mean I’ll only be going after his shoes. Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant’s sneaker line first caught my attention back when the KD IV dropped. The colorways were crazy, but the shoes were pretty solid low-tops with cool mid-foot straps for a lock-down feel. Now I’m no basketball player, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to pick up a pair of his new shoes – The Nike KD VI.

Nicknamed the “Seat Pleasant”, the colorway is inspired by the recreational center where Kevin Durant honed his skills back in Maryland. The bright yellow is a sure eye-catcher that’s complemented with some cool teal color-blocking.

Looks-wise, I really like the KD VI’s sleek silhouette. While the design inspiration is said to have come from a wristwatch, I was really drawn to getting a pair because of how much they look like football/futsal shoes to me. From how low the shoes are cut, the tongue that veers to the side, all the way to the placement of the swoosh, there’s a part of me that thinks at least some design cues were taken from Nike’s football program.

Now while I’m not the person to ask in terms of on-court performance, I can say that the shoes are pretty lightweight thanks to Nike’s Flywire technology. And being loaded with both Max Air and Zoom Air units, the shoes are mighty comfy and great for all-day wear.

Going back to performance, now while I don’t play basketball, perhaps football design cues aren’t too far-fetched an idea. If low-top sneakers don’t restrict movement, thus allowing football players to come up with some dazzling dribbling on the pitch, then it makes sense for the design to be adapted towards basketball. The evolution of the Kobe Bryant line has prominently featured the benefits of having a low-top sneaker for dynamic on-court movement, and it would only make sense for the newest iteration of the Kevin Durant line to follow suit.

If you’re a baller who favors quick, flashy drives to the basket, or if you’re like me, a sneakerhead who appreciates an eye-catching low-top, give these a try. Great player, great sneakers, and great price point too! Check out Titan, Nike, and other sports stores for upcoming colorways! 

Different Setting, Same Animal - The Nike Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle "Gorge Green"

If you've known me long enough, you know that I'm a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and that Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. I was heartbroken at the end of last season seeing Kobe go down with an achilles injury that set into motion a series of events that resulted in the Lakers getting swept out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Kobe's my favorite player because he's the ultimate competitor. Countless times he's proven that adversity fuels his fire. And with that, I think the Los Angeles Lakers are going to come back strong next season.

My love for Kobe and the Lakers just falls under a greater love for the game of basketball. However, I haven't played in years, and to call my game "pretty rusty" is putting it lightly. However, when I heard that "lifestyle" editions of Kobe's eight signature Nike sneakers had released, the thought of copping them popped in my mind faster than it took Reggie Miller to score 8 points against the New York Knicks in 1995.

Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle LE
(Gorge Green/Black-Sail) 

The Nike Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle takes the low-cut silhouette of the Kobe 8 and retools it with an offcourt sensibility in mind. Gone are the fancy bits of technology needed to maximize basketball performance. In their place is a comfy cupsole and a stitched midsole in an nod to classic sneaker styling.

This pair retains the "snake" aesthetics which have been a running theme in Kobe's sneaker line. The gorge green "scales" are eye-catching enough without being obnoxious, while more subtle details like the waxed cotton laces and purple soles add to their premium feel. They also come in this sweet, retro Nike Sportswear box.

I got my pair at the Titan flagship store in Bonifacio Global City, where this and another Kobe 8 lifestyle release are exclusively available. If you love basketball (or at least sneakers) and haven't been to Titan, you're missing out! If you want to a cop a pair, or some other awesome sneakers, you know what they say. Don't sleep.

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The Titan Flagship store is located at the ground level of the Two Parkade Building, right beside Bonifacio High Street.