While the return date of Kyrie Irving when it comes to the court is unknown, we officially have a release date for the second incarnation of the point guard’s signature shoe from Nike. In a GIF-filled news release regarding physics and biomechanics and all of the other in-depth Nike research items, we find that the Kyrie 2 will hit shelves on Tuesday, December 15.

Here’s ESPN’s Sports Science’s John Brenkus as told by Nike:

Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving pushes the boundaries of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion in ways that Dr. James Naismith, credited with inventing the game of basketball, never would have imagined. This movement informs the unique architecture of Irving’s second signature shoe, the KYRIE 2, complete with a first-of-its-kind curved midsole and outsole, designed to enhance intense banking and cutting. Irving has one of the most devastating crossover dribbles the game has ever seen. “With an average ball speed of 21 miles per hour — nearly twice as fast as an average NBA player’s dribble — Kyrie can complete a crossover in less than one-third of a second,” says Brenkus. Pushing off the court with 770 pounds of force at a sharp 40-degree angle, Irving can experience four g’s of acceleration during the crossover. (To put this number in perspective, that’s a g-force greater than the average astronaut experiences during a rocket launch). In other words: Irving needs footwear that performs under extreme pressure.

The sneaker features what is called a “banking concept” thanks to the incredibly low angles at which Irving’s feet touch the basketball floor. While most shoes have a midsole that differs in look and feel, the Kyrie 2’s sole wraps around the entire foot to provide traction at the angles discussed by Brenkus.

But wait: There’s more:

Irving doesn’t just keep defenders on their toes with his lightning quick acceleration. He also uses his deceleration to his advantage. “Kyrie can decelerate from 13 miles per hour to virtually zero in 0.2 seconds,” says Brenkus. “From there, he’s able to pick up the dribble and get off a shot in just 0.49 seconds.” “On a step-back jumper, the point guard can create six feet of separation in only 0.37 seconds and then launch himself off the court so that the ball is released nine feet in the air,” Brenkus adds. When you have that much momentum and abruptly stop — according to Newton’s first law — your body wants to continue its forward motion, unless acted upon by an external force. That’s where the KYRIE 2’s traction pattern and strapping system (which wraps over the top of the foot, instead of around the ankle) comes into play.

This is where that strap comes in. Where the Kyrie 1 had a standard lacing system, the Kyrie 2 features a pull strap that extends from the outside heel to the inside ankle. It’s understandably the first thing a fan of Irving’s line will notice as it’s the chief difference between the first and second installments. As was the case with the LeBron 13, this is where Nike attempts to balance out style and science. Sure, they want to provide something that looks great with jeans, but their priority is the player and keeping his ankles in shape for the inevitable postseason run.

More fun facts:

Starting from a standstill at the three-point line, Kyrie can get to the rim in as little as 1.5 seconds, or 15 percent faster than the typical NBA point guard.

On a drive from the three-point line, his feet generate more than 1.5 tons of cumulative force.

Irving can shift his forward momentum twice in just four-tenths of a second, which is about as long as it takes to blink your eye.

It’s crazy to think that all of this research and science goes into what a players wears on this feet during a basketball game, but the company’s goal is to not just make these kids look good—they need them to perform at the best level possible.

The Kyrie 2 will hit stores on December 15 with the first release being a tie-dye branded “Effect” colorway. The “Inferno,” featured above, will hit stores on January 1. It will retail for $125 per pair.