Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. You’re sitting there, scrolling through GOAT or StockX, and suddenly a bright yellow sneaker with literal "pores" printed on the side catches your eye. It’s been years since Kyrie Irving and Nike teamed up with Nickelodeon, but the SpongeBob and Patrick basketball shoes are still some of the most recognizable kicks on any hardwood court. Honestly, it’s a bit weird if you think about it. We’re talking about a grown man—one of the best ball-handlers in NBA history—dedicating a massive collaboration to a sea sponge and a starfish. But it worked. It worked so well that even now, finding a deadstock pair in a size 10.5 feels like hunting for buried treasure in Bikini Bottom.
The collection didn't just happen by accident. Kyrie Irving is a massive fan of the show. He’s gone on record saying he loves the creative energy of the series, and when Nike Basketball gave him the green light to bring that to his signature line, he didn't half-step. We got the Kyrie 5 and the Kyrie Low 2 transformed into literal cartoons you can wear.
The Design Genius Behind the SpongeBob and Patrick Basketball Shoes
When you look at the SpongeBob SquarePants version of the Kyrie 5, the details are kind of insane. It isn't just a yellow shoe. Nike used a porous, sponge-like mesh for the upper that actually mimics the texture of a kitchen sponge. They even added a hand-drawn Nike swoosh that looks like it was sketched by a storyboard artist from the show. Then you flip it over. The outsole has yellow, white, and brown hits, representing SpongeBob’s everyday outfit—the shirt, the tie, and those iconic brown shorts.
Patrick Star’s shoe, on the other hand, is a masterpiece of minimalism... if you can call a hot pink sneaker minimalist. This one used the Kyrie 5 silhouette too. The upper has a pebbled texture, just like a starfish's skin. But the real "if you know, you know" detail is on the sole. It’s got a vibrant green and purple pattern that matches Patrick’s trunks perfectly. If you look inside the tongue of either shoe, you see the character’s faces staring back at you. It’s goofy. It’s bold. It’s exactly why people still pay double the retail price for them today.
Most "character" shoes feel cheap. They feel like something you’d buy at a grocery store for a toddler. These were different. These were performance-grade basketball shoes. You could—and many pros did—drop 30 points in them. That's the key.
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Why Performance Matters for Cartoon Kicks
You’ve got to remember that the Kyrie 5 was a technical powerhouse. It featured the Air Zoom Turbo unit. This wasn't just a standard bag of air; it was designed to wrap around the foot so that when Kyrie (or you) made a sharp cut, the cushioning responded at every angle.
- Traction that bites: The "Flytrap" lace housing kept your foot locked down.
- Curved outsole: This allowed for insane bank angles while dribbling.
- Aesthetics vs. Function: Nike managed to keep all that tech while overlaying it with pink starfish skin.
It's a weird juxtaposition. You have this high-end piece of sports engineering that looks like it belongs in an aquarium. That contrast is precisely why the SpongeBob and Patrick basketball shoes survived the "trend" phase and became legitimate collector's items.
The Resale Reality and Market Longevity
Let’s talk numbers for a second. When these dropped in August 2019, they retailed for about $130. Cheap? No. Fair? Absolutely. Fast forward to 2026, and the market hasn't cooled down as much as you'd expect. A pair of the "SpongeBob" Kyrie 5s in a popular size can easily fetch $300 to $500 depending on the condition. The Patrick Star pair usually sits slightly lower, maybe in the $250 to $400 range, but it's still a massive markup from the original price.
Why hasn't the hype died? Because Nike and Kyrie Irving are no longer partners.
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This is the "elephant in the room" for sneakerheads. After Nike officially severed ties with Kyrie in late 2022, the production of all Kyrie-branded footwear stopped. There will never be a "restock" of the SpongeBob and Patrick basketball shoes. What exists in the wild right now is all we're ever going to get. This scarcity has turned a fun collaboration into a finite resource. If you're wearing these at the local YMCA, you're essentially playing in a piece of sneaker history that is slowly disappearing.
Avoiding the Fakes
Because these are so valuable, the market is flooded with "reps" or counterfeits. Some of them are surprisingly good, but there are always tells. On the SpongeBob pair, the "pores" on the side should have a slight depth to them, not just be flat brown dots. On the Patrick pair, the "Nik_e" logo on the heel should have a specific font style that mimics the show’s title card. If the pink looks too neon or the green on the sole looks like a highlighter, run away.
Honestly, the best way to verify is the weight. Real Kyries have a specific heft because of the Zoom units. Fakes often feel like they’re made of Styrofoam.
The Cultural Impact Beyond the Court
It wasn't just NBA players wearing these. We saw WNBA stars, high school recruits, and even celebrities rocking the SpongeBob and Patrick basketball shoes in the front row of games. It tapped into a specific generation. If you were born between 1990 and 2005, SpongeBob is basically your Shakespeare. It’s the universal language of the internet.
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The collection also included pairs for Mr. Krabs, Sandy Cheeks, and Squidward. The Squidward Kyrie Low 2, with its turquoise upper and "bored" expression, is actually a sleeper hit among collectors who find the bright pink Patrick shoes a bit too loud for daily wear. But the core duo—the yellow and the pink—remains the gold standard.
They represent a time when Nike was willing to be truly weird. They didn't just put a logo on a shoe; they re-engineered the materials to tell a story. It’s a level of commitment you don't see in every collaboration. Usually, a collab is just a new colorway. This was a metamorphosis.
What You Should Do If You Want a Pair
If you're actually looking to buy these today, don't just jump at the first listing you see on eBay. You need a strategy because, frankly, the materials on these shoes can age if they aren't stored right.
First, check the midsoles. The Kyrie 5 uses a foam that can occasionally crumble if it’s been sitting in a hot attic for six years. Ask for "squeeze tests" from sellers. If the foam feels crunchy, move on. Second, look at the "pores" on the SpongeBob pair. They can peel if the shoes were cleaned with harsh chemicals.
Actionable Steps for Collectors:
- Verify the Source: Use platforms with physical authentication centers like eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee, StockX, or GOAT.
- Check the "Nickelodeon" Logo: On the tongue, the orange splash logo should be crisp. If the edges are blurry, it’s a fake.
- Sizing Caution: Kyries generally run small and narrow. If you're a wide footer, you almost certainly need to go up a half size, or your pinky toe will be screaming by the second quarter.
- Check for "Sole Separation": This was a minor issue with some early Kyrie 5 runs. Look closely at where the upper meets the midsole to ensure there are no gaps.
The SpongeBob and Patrick basketball shoes are more than just a meme. They are a rare example of a "fun" sneaker that actually holds up under scrutiny. Whether you’re a serious hooper looking for something that stands out or a collector trying to preserve a piece of the Kyrie Irving era, these shoes are a definitive mark in the timeline of footwear. They remind us that basketball doesn't always have to be so serious. Sometimes, it’s just about a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea.
If you're hunting for a pair, prioritize the Kyrie 5 "SpongeBob" for long-term value, but look toward the "Squidward" Low 2 if you actually want a comfortable, lower-profile shoe to play in. Just be prepared for the "Where'd you get those?" questions every time you step on the court.