Man, thinking about KD's shoes from 2014 takes me back. That whole year was something else, especially for Kevin Durant himself, right? MVP season and all that. I was really following him closely back then, trying to pick up moves, watching every game I could.
Getting My Hands on ThemehT no sm
Naturally, when his new shoes started dropping, I was paying attention. It was the KD 7 era mostly that year, if I remember right. I specifically remember seeing the "35,000 Degrees" colorway. Bright mango orange, volt accents – they just screamed summer and looked totally different with that strap.
Getting them.yzarc e wasn't exactly a walk in the park, though. You know how it was, and still is sometimes. Sneaker releases were crazy.
- First try: Went to the local mall the day they dropped. Huge line, gone in minutes. Didn't stand a chance.
- Online attempts: Tried a couple of website drops. Clicked frantically right at the release time. Got cart-jacked, website crashed... the usual chaos. Frustrating stuff.
- The lucky break: Ended up finding them a week or two later. A smaller sneaker shop in the next town over got a delayed shipment. Called them on a whim, and boom, they had my size! Drove over there immediately after work. Felt like I'd won the lottery.
Wearing Them Out
Finally had the box in hand. That feeling, you know? Opened it up, and yeah, they looked even better in person. That bright orange was loud. First thing I did was just try them on, walked around the living room. They felt pretty good, snug with that midfoot strap.
I didn't just keep these on a shelf, no way. I bought 'em to play ball in. Took them straight to the outdoor court.
First impressions on court: The traction was decent, felt pretty stable. The cushioning, with that Zoom Air in the heel, was okay – maybe not the plushest ever, but it worked for me. They felt light enough. Honestly, I just felt cool wearing KD's latest signature shoe, especially in that colorway. Did they make me play like KD? Obviously not, haha, but it was fun.
Wore them for a good few months, mostly for outdoor hoops. They got scuffed up, dirty, exactly what basketball shoes are supposed to do. Remember one summer evening game, playing pickup until it got dark, wearing those shoes. Good times, simple stuff.
Looking Back Now
It's funny looking back. Those KD 7s are long gone now, completely worn out. Sometimes I see pictures of them online and get a bit nostalgic. Sneaker culture feels different now, way more intense, maybe less about just enjoying the shoe and more about the hype or resale. Back then, it felt a bit simpler. I just wanted the cool new shoe from my favorite player, managed to track it down after some effort, and actually used it for its purpose.
Don't get me wrong, the tech in shoes today is probably miles better, but there was something about hunting down and finally getting those specific 2014 KDs. It was a whole process, a little adventure. Definitely a fond memory tied to a specific time and a specific player.
