Christmas Day in the NBA isn't only about the five basketball games stuffed into your TV. We can't have a holiday in this country without moving some product.
And when it comes to pitchmen, you can't go wrong with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.
The league's three biggest and most-bankable superstars are unveiling new shoes on Dec. 25 to go along with the special uniforms worn throughout the holiday extravaganza. Unlike the debut of the simple, monochromatic dubs, these Nikes are full of color and flair.
"With Nike and KD, myself and Kobe, we always try to do something special for the Sneaker Heads on Christmas, and bring a nice color, a nice flavor," James said. "With KD having a nice color and Kobe having a nice color, I have the red with green on Christmas.
"It's a great day. It's a great day for basketball. You have five games on Christmas, and we want the Sneaker Heads to be excited about the shoes that we're going to be wearing, so it should be cool."
LeBron's close friend and Christmas Day nemesis at American Airlines Arena went old school with his kicks. Durant's shoes are blue and orange with wild patterns, evoking a Monet painting infused with a childhood passion.
"These are inspired by my favorite gift I got as a kid when I was 8 years old, the Sonic the Hedgehog video game," Durant said. "Nike put together the shoe, and, hopefully, everyone likes it."
James believes the stark contrast between the minimalist uniforms, dubbed "BIG Color" by Adidas and the NBA, and the multicolored basketball shoes works.
"The uniforms that we're wearing are plain, but they're strong," he said. "I think the tone on tone is nice."
These three new offerings won't be in stores in time to go under the tree, but they do go on sale Dec. 26 in plenty of time for those Sneaker Head New Year's parties.
"It should be cool," James said. "I'm looking forward to it. It should be fun."
For more info on these special edition shoes, Nike.com offers the following:
KOBE 8 SYSTEM
In keeping with the snake-inspired design of Bryant’s latest signature shoe, the Kobe 8 System draws inspiration from the rhinoceros viper. The perfect snake skin for a holiday colorway, its bright red and yellow scales mimic a Christmas tree garland.
The shoe features a Nike Engineered Mesh upper, Lunarlon midsole and tactile traction.
LEBRON X
Furthering the diamond inspiration of the LeBron X, the design team unearths the rarest of diamond colors, red, to serve as the creative muse for this colorway. Highlighted by a sun-washed green, the shoe also features a metallic-like reflection on the vibrant red upper.
KD V
As a kid, Durant recalls getting a video game system one Christmas. Inspired by video game graphics, Nike designers created the upper design, sockliner graphic and tongue tab logo for Durant’s special Christmas Day shoe.
