Just when you thought sports couldn’t get any more dramatic, Nike’s recent commercial for the release of the new KD19 helped stir the pot as Grammy award-winning rapper and company partner, Drake, helped jab at rival company Adidas.
Being the 19th shoe in Kevin Durant’s signature line, the company had to make the announcement in a dramatic fashion, and even the Houston Rockets star forward got in on the fun, joining Drake in the commercial.
This comes as no surprise to fans who follow both stars in their respective careers, as the two have been friends for almost a decade, with Drake routinely supporting Durant in the NBA season and hanging out in the offseason.
Drake, who’s no stranger to beefs, was the catalyst in Nike’s commercial, directly mentioning Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards and his signature Adidas shoe.
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After being delivered to Durant in a crate labeled “FRAGILE” featuring a signature Nike swoosh, the Canadian rapper would appear and hand over the brand-new candy purple KD19.
While hyping up the 12-time All-NBA star and detailing the new shoe as the best colorway he’s ever seen, Drake would slip in a couple of shots at Nike’s rival, becoming a viral topic in the sneaker and basketball worlds.
“‘Hey Ant-Man, can you drop your purple shoes?’ said four kids in Minnesota. Like no one wants to see those, they want the KD’s.” Drake relayed it to Durant in the commercial, and it was clipped and spread like wildfire minutes after the release.
Durant responded to the star rapper, calling him “wild” for his comments while also agreeing that the shoes were indeed a hit.
The shoes are set to release on June 17, 2026, but fans will be eager to see how Anthony Edwards and Adidas respond to Nike’s latest jab.
