Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, who holds a lifetime deal with Nike, recently reignited tensions with Adidas during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend. The dispute began when Durant noticed a fan wearing Adidas shoes and directly questioned their choice, taking a sharp jab at the $13.4 billion brand amid a growing public feud.
In a viral moment captured on X, formerly Twitter, Durant challenged the fan on the brand he wore:
“Do you wear Adidas? Who the f*ck wears Adidas?” Durant said.
This public remark quickly drew attention due to Durant’s history with shoe brands and his high-profile status in basketball.
Adidas Designer Fires Back Citing Past Praise From Durant
Adidas responded swiftly to Durant’s comments, with senior footwear designer Jalal Enayah confronting the star athlete on social media. Enayah presented evidence that Durant had previously complimented Adidas, specifically referencing KD’s past praise of Lil Baby’s Adidas Harden Vol. 7 Chrome shoes.
“Since @easymoneysniper wants to talk sh*t about adidas lol We both know you’re a fan lowkey!!!!!” Enayah wrote on his Instagram stories.
Durant responded quickly, downplaying the situation as lighthearted and refusing to back down from his criticism of Adidas.
“Awww jalal_enayah. Keep working youngster. It was just jokes,” Durant replied on Instagram.
recurring Tensions Between Durant and Adidas
This recent exchange is not an isolated incident in Durant’s strained relationship with Adidas. In late 2023, Durant publicly declared he would never wear Adidas shoes after comments about Anthony Edwards’ first signature shoe release, escalating the feud. Adidas also fired back with a curt social media response that was deleted shortly after posting, adding to the back-and-forth.
“u dusty bouta retire soon anyway.”
The Adidas account later admitted the message originated from a secondary, “burner” account, a jab at Durant’s known use of anonymous profiles on social media to respond to criticism.
“meant to send that from the burner account…” the Adidas account on X replied.
Challenges Mount for Durant on Social Media This Month
Kevin Durant’s social media presence has been turbulent this month beyond the Adidas feud. During the NBA All-Star Weekend, fans scrutinized his affiliation with Skydio, a drone company linked to Israeli technology. Additionally, messages allegedly from Durant’s burner account leaked, revealing harsh criticisms directed at former teammates such as Steph Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Devin Booker, as well as coaches Steve Kerr and Frank Vogel.
Among these controversies, the leaked messages also contained disparaging remarks aimed at Durant’s current Houston Rockets teammates, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith. Despite the backlash, Durant appeared uninterested in addressing these issues publicly when questioned by media representatives.
Implications for Durant’s Public Image and Brand Relationships
The ongoing feud with Adidas and recent social media disturbances are contributing to a challenging period for Kevin Durant’s public persona. The vocal conflict with a major athletic brand like Adidas, combined with leaked hostile messages toward teammates and coaches, could affect his professional relationships and fan support. As Durant navigates these controversies, his future interactions with brands and his team will be closely watched by the NBA community and its followers.
“Do you wear adidas? Who the f*ck wears adidas?”
Kevin Durant continues his war against adidas 😳😳😳
🎥: @ikpreme pic.twitter.com/C59jBE3haz
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) February 24, 2026
