Bioluminescent ‘Team Durant’ PE Puts a Periscope on Upcoming KD 18

let loose a steaming magma-wave of basketball heat in their recent , and amongst the hoopla came three new colourways of latest signature sneaker – the The sparkliest of the trio was the 'International Blue', an iridescent villain with a very frosty outsole. Now, the Jumpman and the Slim Reaper have given this stunning palette a little remix for Nike Basketball’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), in a silhouette that will have the kids in conniptions.

But first – some history. The EYBL opened up in 2010 as a premier basketball circuit for hooper savants aged 17 and under, of any gender. It's a money-can't-buy training ground for young basketballers, offering them exposure to college scouts, professional development opportunities, and peers against whose hardwood skills they can test their own mettle. Not every team is affiliated with a particular pro baller, but some are – such as Team Melo (Carmelo Anthony), Team CP3 (Chris Paul) and Team Durant (Kevin Durant).

Every year around the time of the Peach Jam tournament – the circuit's concluding summer comp – a handful of player-exclusive colourways will emerge on signature kicks, and it's this edition of the KD 18 we're looking at.

So, how does the 'Team Durant' KD 18 (which you'll sadly never wear unless you're a high school hooping genius) differ from its 'International Blue' counterpart (which you might just cop this summer)? The main distinction is the upper, which is given total azure-blue coverage in mesh as opposed to the black Foamposite build. The squad gets a salute with 'TEAM DURANT' embroidered inside the tongue, and the angular 'KD' chevron logo hits the insole and tongue plate.

The 'Team Durant' KD 18 might be a bioluminescent beauty, but there's no need to be jealous of the children – keep your eyes locked on SF for the 'International Blue' release date, which is sure to emerge soon.

For more KD news, Durant unveiled just weeks ago.