The Top 10 Best Nike KD 6 Colorways

When most people talk about Kevin Durant’s entire signature shoe line, which is now 18 models deep, the only two that matter are the Nike KD 4 and KD 6. Even Durant acknowledges the gap on the podcast when he said that KD 6 was his favorite model: there is the KD 4 (the people’s choice) and the KD 6 (KD’s choice) and everything else*. That has to be a little disappointing to hear that all the time when you’ve had as long a run as he has had. Conversely, there’s no denying that the KD 4 and KD 6 were perfect for their era. Affordably priced and hot colorways worn by a rising star with a universal approval rating? Smells like a hit to us.

In 2026, Nike will be testing the people’s love for the KD 6 as a handful of colorways are set to return in retro form for the first time. It will be interesting to see if the 12 to 13 year gap between these releases is a long enough time for sneakerheads to once again pounce on these like they did during their original run. Nike brought back the classic KD 4s that people were thirsting over in 2024 and the answer back then was a resounding “meh.” Many pairs sat in stores, seemingly reserved only for those who wanted them back in 2012, but select colorways like the Aunt Pearl and Galaxy still held up to the test of time.

With the sleek profile and unique asymmetrical tongue that invites people to lace them up in creative ways, Leo Chang’s most ambitious design at the time has the potential to break through in a basketball shoe landscape that could use some shaking up, even if it comes from an older sneaker. With that said, why don’t we look back at the 10 best Nike KD 6 colorways?

*Is there no love for the Nike KD 5? That shoe didn’t get a full year of releases before Nike got on board with the KD 6. A retro of the DMV colorway would be greatly appreciated, Nike.

10. Nike KD 6 Seat Pleasant

The color combo of Yellow and teal looks like one that should not work at first glance. But the Nike KD 6 did this and made them iconic in such a way that it’s hard to picture them on any other sneaker besides the KD 6. The colorway is a nod to Kevin Durant’s hometown and the Seat Pleasant Rec Center where he honed his craft to become one of the greatest pure hoopers of all-time. The hometown vibes are very strong with this one and Durant really put forth the effort to show during the launch window of the model to show how close to home this sneaker meant to him and his community. It’s certainly a more humble homage than the DC Preheat colorway that looks gaudy in hindsight.

9. Nike KD 6 Liger

If you’re wondering, a liger is the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. They are not to be confused with a tigon, which is the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion. Genealogy studies aside, Nike found a silhouette that fits the quirky origins of the animal. The various prints and splashes of color around the shoe’s upper give it a level of unpredictability that fans of that era of basketball shoes love while casuals do a double-take.

8. Nike KD 6 PB&J

In the same podcast where Kevin Durant declared the KD 6 as his favorite from his entire signature run, he made mention of the PB&J colorway. Was it a similar decree that it was a favorite colorway of his because of his love for the snack or a hint to the crowd that a retro was getting ready to drop? It doesn’t really matter because it was another fan favorite during its original run because of how much the colors actually matched a real peanut butter and jelly sandwich. More specifically the way the jelly ever so slightly oozes out of the Swoosh’s outline on the upper. The pair will be making a comeback on March 12, 2026!

7. Nike KD 6 All-Star

After exploring the depths of space and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life with the Nike KD 4 and Nike KD 5 All-Star editions, the Nike KD 6 All-Star gave us home cooking as it paid homage to the culture of New Orleans, the site of the 2014 exhibition. As part of a wider Gumbo League All-Star collection, this pair is specifically called “Illusion” for the graphical hits on the upper that reference the voodoo roots that are prevalent in the area. The final touch to give the shoe pop is the glow-in-the-dark elements on the upper and tooling that connects it to the Nike LeBron 11 and Nike Kobe 9 which also have similar embellishments. This colorway will also kick off the KD 6 retro run, with a release planned for February 27, 2026.

6. Nike KD 6 Black History Month

Along with your expected holiday fare, Nike Basketball honored Black History Month with a collection of signature products during the peak of the 2010s basketball shoes. In 2014, the theme was “Sport Royalty” and it was a way for the brand to show its appreciation and respect for the kings and queens of the sports world, including Kevin Durant. His Nike KD 4 features a luxurious purple and black upper that uses art inspired by Pan-African heritage and achievement. Even though the color tones don’t totally match, this collection and this KD 6 was very well-received by this Laker fan.

5. Nike KD 6 Elite EYBL

You know Nike was on a heater during this era of basketball shoes because they had the nerve to sell the public “Elite” playoff editions of their signature product that packed on additional features and higher pricing. The Nike KD 6 Elite featured a mesh upper with Flywire cables that were reinforced by Kevlar to go along with a full-length Zoom Air unit. This multicolored Elite Youth Basketball League was originally speculated as being exclusive to kids who were invited to play in Nike’s top camp but the wide availability of the pair on reseller platforms indicates it did get a lowkey drop either in stores or Nike outlets.

4. Nike KD 6 Meteorology

In the multiverse there exists a world where Kevin Durant is the world's tallest weatherman. Imagine if KD ended up being this generation’s Al Roker, Dallas Raines, or Johnny Mountain. That was the inspiration for one of his most popular sneakers of all time, the Nike KD 4 Weatherman. Interestingly, Nike did not follow up on that hit with the Nike KD 5, waiting until the KD 6 to drop a Meteorology colorway that expanded upon the original Weatherman concept with a different color palette.

3. Nike KD 6 EXT Floral

Despite its design and performance slant, Nike attempted to give the KD 6 some lifestyle trappings with this floral rendition of the sneaker. Giving it the EXT (short for “Extension”) moniker to separate it from the hoops-ready KD 6s, the textile floral upper gave the silhouette a more homely vibe, if not something that you would see on the couch of your elder relatives. Unfortunately, the EXT concept did not catch on as Nike abandoned the concept across signature lines for some time. Luckily, there are new Kobes using this moniker that will be released later this year. Maybe KD will get back in on the action?

2. Nike KD 6 Aunt Pearl

Without a shadow of a doubt Kevin Durant’s most endearing sneaker legacy when all is said and done is his loving tribute to his Aunt Pearl. Named and designed after his late aunt who helped raise him while his mother worked day and night to provide for the family, Durant started the now-yearly tradition with the Nike KD 4. The Nike KD 6 edition featured the now-established white and pink colorway with an all-over floral graphic on the upper with a contrasting hit of blue on the swoosh and tongue. Also included on the tongue is the Kay Yow symbol as proceeds from the sales of the sneaker went to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, named after the legendary women’s basketball college coach who, like Aunt Pearl, passed away after her battle with cancer.

1. Nike KD 6 What The

It’s a story I’ve told elsewhere, but the first time I saw the Nike KD 6 What The in person was on the feet of Bradley Beal inside the Activision booth during E3 2014. He was there as a guest of the company and we were able to spend a few minutes with him talking about video games and sneakers. Not peak journalism, but a fun diversion from the day-to-day blogging duties of the era. In between media hits, myself, Beal, and fellow celebrity Jacques Slade were chatting and the words “I hate you, Bradley Beal” may or may not have been uttered because I wanted a pair of the What The KD 6s. Nike can be inconsistent in producing What The sneakers, but the KD 6 was an instant classic from first glance. So do I feel justified sneaker hating Bradley Beal at that very moment? Absolutely.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com