The Nike KD 4 arrived in 2011 and became one of the defining sneakers of Kevin Durant’s early signature line. The Nerf helped set the tone, and the model quickly became bigger than just a basketball shoe. Durant was becoming one of the league’s biggest stars, while people like Wale—who had a close relationship with KD and was deeply connected to sneaker culture—were wearing KD 4s casually and showing that they could work with everyday fits too. Then the colorways took it to another level. The KD 4 Galaxy, Weatherman, Aunt Pearl, Nerf and other releases became some of the most recognizable sneakers of that era. You’d see them on NBA courts, but you’d also see people rocking them with jeans and regular outfits. That crossover helped the KD line become part of sneaker culture instead of being viewed strictly as performance basketball shoes. Instagram taking off around 2011–2012 was perfect timing too. KOTD and WDYWT posts were everywhere, and seeing people constantly posting their KD 4s...