Nike LeBron: 20 at the King’s feet

If we talk about LeBron James, we talk about the evolution of basketball itself, a sport in which longevity has become a virtue. And, also, of how orphaned a generation will be once he will be retiring, just as there were others that were left before without Kareem, without Bird, without Magic. Or without Jordan.

If Jordan is The GOAT, LeBron is The King. And as such, he reigns on and off the court. On the court, with many shoes that have brought the best of Nike’s technology and innovation: Zoom, Air Max, Battleknit. Years of research at the service of a true force of nature.

And outside, with a style so recognisable that it has led him to collaborate closely not only with Nike, but also with high-end designers as John Elliott. It is also worth mentioning his flair for business with projects such as SpringHill Company – created together with his childhood friend Maverick Carter – or Uninterrupted, the brand for many of his audiovisual projects.

But, coming back to trainers, at FOOTDISTRICT we want to highlight some of the most relevant ones that have seen the light of day under his reign.

Nike Zoom Generation

Although not named after The King, the shoes with which he debuted in the NBA received multiple colourways, one of the most notable being the one he wore in the rookie game of the 2004 All Star Weekend. A favourite for any basketball fan.

Nike LeBron 2

Already with his name printed on them, these shoes arrived in 2004, when he was beginning to show some of the power and dominance on the court that we would see later on. If we had to choose a colourway, perhaps we may pick an unreleased pair: the one from his exhibition match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. White and gold, the colours of a king.

LeBron 3 The Shop

It is no coincidence that being the host of The Shop (formerly on HBO, and now on YouTube), and being barbershops one of the epicentres of any American neighbourhood, there is a special edition dedicated to these -much more than- aesthetic centres. With its colour scheme, the silhouette pays homage to the traditional white, blue and red pole that marks the place where a barbershop is

LeBron IX Watch the Throne

Like a good king of the court, LeBron is also flamboyant and exaggerated. As was the impact of one of those rare models that were once a Friends&Family edition – ultra-limited editions, destined for people close to the brand and, in this case, to the player – and that, finally, arrived on shelves. Gold, African colouring and, above all, a crown that leaves no doubt as to who the boss is.

LeBron X Cork

Perhaps one of the most special and coveted models of the entire LeBron line. First, because of the main material used in the manufacturing of the shoe: cork. And also to celebrate the first of the two championships he would win with the Miami Heat. 

In this case, the use of cork evokes the cork of the champagne bottle always present in victory celebrations.

Note: If you can spare the cash, you can always bid for one of the special gold-boxed editions available at Sotheby’s.

LeBron XI What The

There was a time when basketball silhouettes were at their best and creativity was at an all-time high. And that’s where the What The series, one of the most coveted in Nike Basketball’s line. Combining elements to create a shoe made from spare parts, but whose main attraction was its storytelling, a look back at 10 of the previous silhouettes with elements from each of them.

LeBron Soldier I

If we are highlighting the very best of the LeBron series, we can’t forget the Soldiers. Originally designed as a less techie – and therefore cheaper – version, the silhouette has become one of LeBron’s own and the general public’s favourites. 

It is not uncommon to see LeBron wearing Soldiers at some key moments of the season. A shoe that adds a good fit without sacrificing lightness, even though they were created as streetball shoes. 

LeBron Soldier 8 Flyease

We close this review of 8 legendary silhouettes with the LeBron Soldier 8. We do it with one of the most special versions: the Flyease. Thanks to their laceless system, Matthew Walzer was finally able to not only wear his idol’s shoes, but also lace them by himself. 

Which are your favourite LeBron’s? Upload a photo or Story of your LeBron’s on Instagram using the hashtag #fdLeBronXX.