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BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa shows off Nike 'Air Bakin' KD18 player edition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jason C. Jones | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 8:18 PM ET

At the recent Sprite Jamfest Dunk Contest, future BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa turned heads with his high flying dunks, including one over WNBA star Angel Reese. During the event, AJ debuted a pair of Nike KD18’s player edition in the “Air Bakin” colorway.

If it was just the colorway, “debuted” would not be the term to use as Kevin Durant already showcased it. However, this particula new design choice is worth noting. The reveal with a different trademark than the typical curved lowercase KD logo.

These Air Bakin KD18’s included a glossy “AJ” logo on the tongue. A complete pivot from the typical KD logo, this one shines and utilizes capital letters. Like many players at higher levels, AJ has an affection for the KD model. Many Durant shoes have been celebrated by college and professional players as the line continues to do well despite some pretty wild exterior design choices.

The top reason for that is designed to support an athlete with KD’s game. It’s a combination of a low and a mid, creating maximized flexibility for the wearer. It uses zoom air instead of max air. Almost all KD models come with a speed lacing or adjacent means of quickly getting in and out of the shoe. As well as being a lighter and leaner shoe profile.

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The shoe itself is less important than the colorway chosen. While this is likely one of the last times fans can expect to see Dybantsa wearing something predominantly red, the historical relevance is much bigger than that. The Nike Air Bakin was a shoe ahead of its time. The shape was new and unfamiliar. Particularly the panel work and the lacing created something wild to look at that had real practical application benefits. The ‘AB’ was a love child of Eric Avar’s creation. The designer, known for such innovative designs as the Penny Max 1 and the Foamposite, lived on the edge with the design of the Air Bakin’s versatile indoor/outdoor uses.

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While the Penny Max 1 was the first signature shoe for Penny Hardaway, the Foamposite was not explicitly a signature shoe, but one made famous for being worn by Penny Hardaway. The Air Bakin was also not a signature shoe. However, it was popularized by another Hardaway wearing them. This time it was Tim Hardaway, in large part to the red, yellow and black colorway that matched the Miami Heat uniforms perfectly. Having a shoe that was born of a Penny design, worn by Tim Hardaway, might be an intentional choice when you consider how Dybantsa plays. It also could be arbitrary.

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Dybantsa is the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025. Whether Durant is a major influence in his game or he really just likes the KD shoe line, fans can expect to see more of this as his BYU journey takes shape. As a Nike school, BYU should be able to deliver on any and all requests a player of Dybantsa’s caliber could have for footwear. Time will tell if Dybantsa is the next Durant. In the meantime, the newest Nike team athlete might have already set the bar for sneakers with his most recent shoe.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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