With October looming, Kevin Durant and Nike Basketball are poised to revive their “Aunt Pearl” line of signature sneakers designed to commemorate KD’s late aunt and raise cancer awareness. Bringing us one step closer to a release many Kevin Durant collectors have been waiting for, official images of the Nike KD 18 “Aunt Pearl” have surfaced, giving us a clear look at what to expect.
If you need a refresher, the Aunt Pearl line of sneakers is inspired by KD’s maternal aunt, who often watched over him after school when he was a child. In a 2017 article by Andy Fahey for the NBA, Durant recalled: “I was a quiet kid, I didn’t really have friends. I talked to her even more than my mom and my grandma and my brother. I talked to her a lot and she realized how important basketball was to me.” In 2000, at just eleven years old, Kevin Durant watched his beloved aunt succumb to complications from lung cancer.
In 2012, with Aunt Pearl in mind, Kevin Durant and Nike Basketball wrote the first chapter in what’s now considered one of the most meaningful signature sneaker series in history. The Beaverton brand launched the KD 4 “Aunt Pearl,” debuting a pink colorway that has since appeared on every subsequent Kevin Durant shoe (as well as the KD 3, which Nike brought back in 2023).
Once again paying tribute to Aunt Pearl, Durant’s latest signature model arrives in a light pink colorway constructed from leather, suede, mesh, and canvas. The standout detail is a pink rose graphic that appears on both the sockliner and the Terra Humara–inspired side panels. Pearl accents highlight the base of each of the five overlays, while the midsole is finished with pink paint splatter. The KD logos and Swooshes feature a subtle yellow tint, stitched “Aunt Pearl” text decorates the inner tongue, and pink laces with white stitching tie it all together up top. Underfoot, a light gum outsole completes the look.
The Nike KD 18 “Aunt Pearl” releases via Nike SNKRS and select Nike Basketball retailers on October 7th, 2025, priced at $170. A portion of proceeds from Kevin Durant’s “Aunt Pearl” sneakers will be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which supports women’s cancer research, awareness, and treatment. See official images below if these are a must-have.
