Two months after Kyrie Irving turned seven years old, the first episode of SpongeBob SquarePants aired on May 1, 1999.
20 years, over 200 episodes, millions of memories made off of memes circulating the internet, and still Kyrie Irving’s love for the show is still just as potent as when he sat glued to his television watching the debut of his favorite childhood cartoon.
In 2019 the now seven-time All-Star was five years into his signature athlete deal with The Swoosh – having quickly pioneered the most profitable and popular signature line Nike had powered since the late Kobe Bryant.
After nine months had passed since the initial release of his fifth signature sneaker, Kyrie was able to celebrate his love for the legendary cartoon and its incurably optimistic sponge by fusing it with both the Kyrie 5 and Kyrie low 2; dropping the Kyrie x SpongeBob collection to a roaring reaction on August 10th, 2019.
“This for me is 20 years in the making,” Irving said in a Nike promotional video for the collab pack.
In collaboration with Nickelodeon, Irving’s fifth silhouette gets a Bikini Bottom makeover. SpongeBob, Patrick Squidward, Sandy Cheeks and Mr. Krabs each receive their own uniquely crafted colorway utilizing their memorable characteristics from Squidward’s clarinet on the tongue to the secret krabby patty formula.
“This sneaker pack is a lot bigger than obviously just putting out the shoes. It’s the connection I have to the youth and about passing down some timeless gems,” Irving said.
Spongebob:
Kicking it off with everyone’s favorite sponge in Bikini Bottom, a porous pattern overlay covers the bright-yellow upper while the midsole includes red and white alongside a gum outsole that’s symbolic of SpongeBob’s everyday outfit. Alongside a wavy dripping swoosh.
“I love SpongeBob because he’s a hero, and who doesn’t want to be a hero and learn from not only your friends, but learn from yourself,” Irving said. “He embodies the essence of going out and just being free.”
Patrick:
Patrick Star’s bubbly and colorful personality showcases one of the most vibrant kicks in the pack, with bright pinks and neon greens that clash to pay a perfect homage to half of the best duo in Bikini Bottom. A speckled pattern rests above the pink overlay reflecting the exterior of a starfish with the mid and outsoles being fitted with Patrick’s signature colored pants.
“They’re best friends. They do everything together but they’re literally total opposites,” Irving said of the yellow and pink best friends.
Squidward:
Irving describes him as both an introvert and an extrovert; man on an island by himself – theoretically – we’re talking about the clarinet extraordinaire Squidward.
The disinterested squids’ kicks feature a seafoam green upper with a tan midsole and cornflower blue outsole. Alongside the rest of the characters in the pack, Squidward’s callous face appears on the insoles while water droplets dot the heel cap and swoosh.
Sandy Cheeks:
The first of the characters to grace the Kyrie 2 low is a Texas-native and the only mammal living at the bottom of the ocean, Sandy Cheeks. Designed in homage to her astronaut suit, the white upper flows into a grayed-out midsole. Acorns adorn the back heel tabs of her kicks while her signature pink and yellow flower barrett appears above a gray swoosh.
Sandy and Kyrie may actually have more in common than one might initially associate between the NBA champion and Bikini Bottom’s resident squirrel. As always, it’s best to analyze this through the lens of Irving himself.
“She brings the happiness to the sea. She’s the outside thinker. She’s a true representation of just being a unique individual,” Irving said.
Mr. Krabs:
Taking direct influence from the greediest and cheapest character in the sea, the final Kyrie Low 2 ties in the historic rivalry between Mr. Krabs and Plankton’s constant battle over the krabby patty formula. The owner of the Krusty Krab’s colorway highlights a patent red upper with a yellow swoosh. The detail is taken up a notch on this pair as a smashed and splattered Plankton lies underneath the translucent cage that connects to the laces while a collage of cash lines the insides of the kicks and the collar.
Pineapple House:
In a surprise drop, Nike closed out the SpongeBob collection with a bang, releasing the Pineapple House Kyrie 5. Getting our first on-court look at these on October 3rd, 2019 – when Irving dawned them in the Nets 2019-20 season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves – the exterior matches the grooves of SpongeBob’s signature pineapple house while the forest green lace cage takes inspiration from the crown of the tropical fruit lying at the bottom of the sea. Waves of aqua and royal blue crash across the swoosh while the back heel tab features the handle to the pineapples submarine door.
It’s expressive, it’s loud, and in Irving’s words, the collaboration pack is “to the point.” As simple as tossing a few of our favorite characters signature colors on a sneaker may seem, the level of detail included throughout each pair is indicative of both Irving’s passion to not only pay tribute to a legendary cultural staple, but provide the next generations of the sneaker and basketball community with an endearing memento to their childhood.
@randomsneakerpage Kyrie x Spongebob. Nostalgia boost anyone? #spongebob #foryoupage #kyrieirving #sneakers #sneakerhead #fyp #kyrie5 ♬ original sound – randomsneakerpage