Kevin Durant, star forward for the Phoenix Suns, has long been an outspoken advocate for cancer research and treatment, and he has never been shy about using his enormous public profile to do so. In the year 2000, Kevin Durant’s Aunt Pearl passed away from lung cancer. Every year, Durant wears a unique pair of Nike ‘Aunt Pearl’ sneakers in her honor to keep his word. The Nike Zoom KD 3 is this year’s model. Browse our Sneakers news for the latest in forthcoming releases and breaking stories.

To honor his late Aunt Pearl, Kevin Durant created a special pink Nike Zoom KD 4 edition in 2012 in partnership with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Since then, Durant and Nike have continued the tradition annually, resulting in 12 distinct sneaker releases. Each new Kevin Durant trademark model ultimately gets a pink makeover, but this year’s release will pay homage to a shoe Durant worn before the tradition began.

Medium Soft Pink, White, and Lotus Pink will be the color code for this lovely all-pink silhouette. There will be a huge white Nike swoosh on the sides and Nike’s iconic flywire technology across the top. The laces and lining are Lotus Pink, and one of the tongues features the Kay Yow Cancer Fund logo. The shoes have a white midsole and outsole, and a Kevin Durant/Aunt Pearl logo is stitched into the rear of the heel. Here’s Nike.com’s official take on the shoes:

No matter how far or high KD’s basketball career goes, his Aunt Pearl will always be with him in spirit. She was a guiding light for KD, encouraging him to reach his full potential. Her nephew and the Durant family will carry on her unending love and legacy indefinitely. Aunt Pearl died away in 2000 from lung cancer, but she lives on in all of us and in this beautiful all-pink design that remembers her. Produced in conjunction with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.