The KD 5 Elite is among the older Kevin Durant models Nike plans to bring back in 2027. Kicks Finder reports that the shoe will return in two colorways, one for the EYBL and another for the DMV. The original version came out in April 2013, when Nike Basketball was still making separate Elite editions of its signature shoes for the playoffs.

The Elite models weren’t just regular releases with different colors. Nike made changes to the materials, cushioning, and support, with the LeBron 10 and Kobe 8 also getting the treatment that year. The KD 5 Elite was quite different from those two, mainly because Nike changed so much of the original shoe that it barely looked like a KD 5 anymore.

Nike dropped the high-top cut for a low-top build and added a carbon fiber heel counter and shank for stability. The shoe also came with Kevlar-reinforced Dynamic Flywire cables, a foam tongue designed to relieve lace pressure, and a caged Zoom Air unit instead of the visible Air Max cushioning used on the regular KD 5.

It’s still unknown whether Nike will make any changes to the cushioning or materials for the upcoming release. The photos shown are of the original 2013 model, courtesy of SLAM.

Nike KD 5 Elite 2027 Release Date

The Nike KD 5 Elite “EYBL” is reportedly releasing April 22, 2027, followed by the “DMV” colorway on June 11, 2027. Both pairs are expected to retail for $190.

Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Sneaker Release Dates page.

(2013 EYBL release pictured below via SLAM)