Check Out Kevin Durant's Crazy New Shoe

As the NBA season starts to wind down, the grind of the playoffs begins to kick into second gear. With each game bearing more weight, Nike equips their signature stars with gear made to bear the intensity of the post-season. The first shoe to be unveiled is the Nike KD8 Elite. Designed by Leo Chang, it isn't hard to see that the shoe can be pretty bold in its design. With a silhouette that extends way past the shin, the KD8 Elite blurs the lines between basketball shoe, sock and compression tight.

The in-game benefits may be plenty, but really though, good luck putting them on the first time.

Check the jump for more pics and local release info.

The Nike KD8 is inspired by Sabretooth Tigers

Kevin Durant with the KD8, the most technical shoe of his career. 

If you were in a Nike store last weekend, you might have seen the Nike Basketball "Independence Day" Pack - a collection of on-court footwear for all 4 Nike signature ballers. While each shoe was decked out in colors and prints proudly proclaiming the stars and stripes, the release served as a low-key debut for Kevin Durant's new sneaker.

Check below to read up on KD's most innovative and technically advanced hoops shoe to date - the Nike KD8. The launch colorway pictured above will be available on July 11 at Titan and other Nike Basketball retailers for the price of P9495.

A Sneak Peek at The Nike KD8

Kevin Durant didn't have a great year after winning his first NBA Most Valuable Player award. Injuries kept him from leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a playoff spot in a Western Conference that seems to get even more competitive by the year. With this in mind, Durant links up once again with designer Leo Chang for the KD8 seen below in sketch form. Using the sabertooth tiger as one of the jump-off points for its design, the KD8 promises to be the most technologically advanced shoe in the KD line. 

The KD8 is expected to launch on the 23rd of June. However, they start hitting retailers on the 1st of July.