Nike Basketball 2014 "NOLA Gumbo League" Collection

With the NBA All-Star weekend less than a month away, Nike reveals the NOLA Gumbo League collection consisting of the KD VI Illusion, Kobe 9 Elite Maestro, and the LeBron 11 Gator King. Inspired by the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana both in the literal sense for its intricate cooking process as well as figuratively with the eclectic “melting pot”-like cultures found in New Orleans, each of the three models received a bold new makeover.

Kevin Durant’s sixth signature sneaker is redesigned to celebrate the magic of his versatility and fluidity on the court with free-flowing hand-drawn illustrations on its upper. Furthermore, its glow-in-the-dark outsole is said to represent the “spark” the comes with KD’s game play.

Just like the bayou’s great, instinctive jazz musicians, the acclaimed Kobe 9 Elite was developed for a player who holds a masterful command over his craft like no one else in the league. The Maestro iteration features brass accents and glow-in-the-dark details to identify with the jazz instruments in play as well as the nightly glare that appeared from its clubs.

The LeBron 11 Gator King draws an obvious inspiration from the alligator in a bold expression of royalty and power. Including gator-influenced graphic textures throughout, the white Hyperposite panels reveal hand-drawn patterns when they glow-in-the-dark. Lastly, the purple, green and gold colorway derives itself from the king of Carnival - the “Rex.”

Releasing with a commemorative tarot card and special edition box, the NOLA Gumbo League collection will be served on February 14 at select retailers including Nike.com.