Thunder’s Chet Holmgren unveils the new Nike KD 18 PE sneaker

The vast majority of NBA rookies and young stars grew up watching the Rockets’ Kevin Durant as one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game. Durant fundamentally changed what it means to score from seven feet, something Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren he certainly modeled his game after growing up. As a tribute to arguably his biggest influence, Holmgren will release upcoming PE colorways featuring Durant’s signature Nike KD 18.

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Upon entering the league in 2022, Holmgren signed a multi-year deal with Nike that includes a sneaker sponsorship. While Holmgren is still waiting to make the leap into his own signature sneaker model, he has favored the Nike KD series for most of his time in the NBA. That’s fitting considering the two players share a similar long frame, and Holmgren was modeling his game after Durant since he’s been playing AAU.

The Nike KD 18 serves as Kevin Durant’s latest sneaker in his illustrious signature catalog, which Nike has made an effort to resurrect this year with retro editions of previous KD sneakers. These upcoming Chet Holmgren PEs (gamer exclusives) will eventually be released at retail in the coming months.

Nike KD 18 PE (Chet Holmgren)

“They come out in mid-March” 📆

–@ChetHolmgren on the release date of his Nike KD 18 PE pic.twitter.com/0vpkzUBpS4

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) February 27, 2026

An official look at the Nike KD 18 “Camo” PE that Chet Holmgren debuted late last year 🏀

It is expected to drop in March. pic.twitter.com/h89Mo3sp2h

— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) March 1, 2026

Giving fans additional information on release dates during NBA All-Star Weekend 2026, Holmgren confirmed the upcoming “Camo” and “Thunder & Reign” colorways of the Nike KD 18. The first “Camo” colorway, arriving on March 13, 2026, features Coyote/Safety Orange-Medium Brown an ensemble inspired by the outdoors. Based in brown and olive green, we see real wood grain patterns along the upper with accents in the iconic Safety Orange familiar to all outdoorsmen.

OFFICIAL LOOK: Nike KD 18 “Thunder & Reign” by Chet Holmgren PE ⚡@ChetHolmgren

🗓 March 13
📝 IO7519-500
💵 165 dollars pic.twitter.com/09LcNMfkps

— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) February 28, 2026

The next pair of “Thunder & Reign” arrives in stunning Space Purple/Multicolor-Pure Purple color scheme. Holmgren rocked them during the Thunder’s season opener against the Rockets and Kevin Durant, making them a special pair in his PE collection. The vast majority of the shoes are done up in purple with cheetah print panels in the base layers, giving them an undeniable Prince vibe given Holmgren’s roots in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Both pairs will release side-by-side on March 13th, 2026 in a Nike exclusive SNKRS drops. The pairs are supposed to be full-size with limited quantities and as Holmgren said, “once they’re gone, they’re gone.”