LeBron James' 23 Greatest Sneaker Moments
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In 2008, Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan revealed the Air Jordan XX3. From the design to the numbering to the fanfare, it felt like the end of the era. Even though Michael Jordan last played in an NBA game five years before this moment, this was the model that felt like MJ was finally ready to pass the torch to the next generation. If that wasn’t enough to drive the point home, the last colorway of the XX3 in its original run was called “Finale.”
A few weeks back, LeBron James unceremoniously revealed a weartest sample of the Nike LeBron 23 while training for his 23rd season in the NBA. How James is still going after all of this time is a testament to his discipline, his otherworldly athleticism, and advancements in modern medicine. In that sense, LeBron is like Bizzaro MJ, just without the weird origin story: never retired, never switched careers, never really interested in passing the torch to the next generation (sorry, Luka). Like his GOAT argument against MJ on the court, LeBron’s sneaker case will rely heavily on longevity and quality. No one’s going to deny that Michael Jordan had higher peaks, but James has been steadily excellent for so long that those who want to jump on that bandwagon shouldn’t feel like they’re backing a losing cause. It’s just that arguments like this are ultimately toxic and don’t actually achieve anything because no one will ever admit to being wrong or not harbor ill feelings towards those who have a different take.
Instead of wading into that discourse, let’s talk about what LeBron James has achieved in the sneaker world so far. With 23 signature shoes (the latest being the Nike LeBron 23), several takedown models, and countless headlines for wearing some of Nike’s most hyped releases, James’ value to Nike is not easy to quantify. Narrowing his iconic moments down to 23 was not an easy task (we could easily do another 23 for a future feature), but we also added some bonus picks from his earlier days before he signed with The Swoosh. Why? Just because we like to make things hard on ourselves.
(23) First Televised Game - adidas T-Mac 2 PE and adidas Pro Model 2G PE
The world got its first glance at LeBron James on December 12, 2002, during an ESPN-televised game featuring James’ high school team Saint Vincent Saint Mary’s. Since the program was sponsored by adidas, James was rocking the best The Three Stripes had to offer: patent leather player exclusives of the adidas T-Mac 2 and the adidas Pro Model. James would impress in his first game on a big stage, leading his squad to a victory over top-ranked Oak Hill. Sneakerheads and LeBron fans who have been hoping those PEs would actually release to the public got their wish 20 years later as both the T-Mac 2 and the Pro Model 2G dropped in those same colors in 2022.
(22) McDonald’s All-American Game - Reebok Question Red Toe PE
Months after making his national debut, James would get another chance to shine in the 2003 McDonald’s All-American Game. Playing alongside future Hall of Famer and Banana Boat crew member Chris Paul, James would take home MVP honors. His sneaker of choice was a player-exclusive version of the Reebok Question Red Toe with his initials and jersey number. Famously in the running to sign James during that time, that game and those shoes would be the closest that Reebok ever got to saying the future superstar was a Reebok guy. In the years since, Reebok has released the Saint Vincent Saint Mary’s PE that LeBron wore but never the McDonald's version, making them a grail for LeBron completionists.
(21) First Preseason Game - Air Jordan 9 PE
LeBron James would have a relatively quiet first preseason game, scoring only 8 points against the Detroit Pistons. He was surprisingly loudly booed during his first dunk, but it would turn out to be a familiar sound Pistons fans would make towards LeBron in the coming years. They probably would have booed louder if they had zoomed in on the Air Jordan 9s that James was rocking. James would go on to rock the Air Jordan 3 in later preseason games, but this relatively tame Air Jordan 9 PE gets the honor of being the real “first game” LeBron shoes.
(20) First NBA Game - Nike Air Zoom Generation Debut
Just like his first nationally televised game a year prior, the world was watching LeBron’s every step for his regular season debut against the Sacramento Kings. Most people remember this game for the iconic first dunk that would become the silhouette for his Dunkman alter ego years down the line, but sneakerheads will never forget this game as it was the day most fans saw the Nike Air Zoom Generation for the first time. A collaborative effort by the power trio of Tinker Hatfield, Aaron Cooper, and Eric Avar, the Hummer-inspired design was the perfect fit for the athlete who would lead the brand into the post-Jordan era.
(19) NBA Rising Stars Game - Nike Air Zoom Generation Wheat
Despite the hype and the flashes of superstardom he displayed in his first half season, LeBron would miss the 2004 All-Star Game. The consolation prize was an invite to the Rising Stars Game that would pit the Rookies led by James against the Sophomores that featured Amar’e Stoudemire and Yao Ming. The game would end up becoming the real Slam Dunk Contest that year as LeBron, Amar’e, and Carmelo Anthony put on a show for the fans. The wheat colorway of the Zoom Generation would get a lot of looks through the years as several photos from that game have lived on in countless highlight reel thumbnails on YouTube.
(18) First All-Star Game - Nike Zoom LeBron 2 All-Star
Voted as a starter for his All-Star Game debut, James would maximize his opportunity by getting all of his teammates to sign his Zoom LeBron 2 in the grey and blue All-Star colorway. A very conservative look especially when compared to future All-Star Nike LeBron colorways, the LeBron 2 would go on to become something of a cult classic in The King’s signature line. Featuring a combination leather and textile upper and generous Zoom Air units, there are people who swear by these kicks to this day for hooping. Well, maybe not 20 years later because the Air bags have probably popped or crumbled by now, but the retros should keep the fans satisfied as they wait for an All-Star reissue.
(17) Love of Cereal (and PEs) - Nike LeBron 4 Fruity Pebbles PE
By the time LeBron reached year four, the world was ready for his signature line to go through a new phase. The result was the Nike Free and Nike Air Foamposite One-inspired Zoom LeBron 4. Built to protect LeBron’s feet while maintaining a close to the ground feel, that creative side showed itself on a number of colorways that played around with the Posite Shell in a way that the audience never saw on Foamposites, Filghtposites, or Clogposites. As one of his many player exclusives, the Fruity Pebbles-inspired LeBron 4 stayed that way for nearly 20 years before it finally got an official collab with Post and the Flintstones. A grail no more, this means that anybody who was hoping this day would come finally got their wish.
(16) 25 Straight Against Detroit - Nike Zoom Soldier 1
In an interesting move, LeBron James decided not to wear his signature Nike Zoom LeBron 4 for most of the playoffs, opting instead to promote his first takedown model, the Zoom Soldier. Priced way below the going rate of the proper LeBron signature shoe, the white, blue, and gold pair turned heads during the playoffs as the world saw what a young LeBron, even without All-Star caliber teammates, was capable of. The signature moment for the Zoom Soldier was Game 5 of the East Finals against the Detroit Pistons. During a critical stretch, LeBron would score 25 straight points and 29 of the Cavs’ last 30 on the vaunted Pistons defense en route to a double overtime victory. The Zoom Soldier 1 would even get a retro a decade later as part of Nike’s “Think 16” pack that highlights some of the most memorable playoff sneakers in their archive.
(15) First MVP - Nike LeBron 6 MVP
On May 5th, 2009, LeBron James would receive his first NBA MVP award. Also on that day, he would debut a special MVP edition of his sixth signature shoe. Coincidence? Actually, yes, because that was the only time he wore the signature LeBron shoe during the 2009 playoffs. His sneaker of choice for the postseason was once again the Zoom Soldier, which got heavy promotion that year as it was the beginning of the MVP Puppets campaign with the late Kobe Bryant. As was the case every year LeBron went into the postseason with a different sneaker from the ones he wore in the regular season, it was a curious chess move. Nevertheless, the Nike LeBron 6 MVP was a sign of things to come as the swoosh would celebrate James’ awards with escalating special editions of his signature shoe.
(14) Jason Petrie Arrives - Nike LeBron 7
With the Nike LeBron 7, LeBron James found his Tinker Hatfield. Jason Petrie would take over as lead designer of the LeBron line after several years with Ken Link at the helm. The partnership continues to this day as Petrie introduced a bold new direction for James and his signature shoes. No longer a part of the Zoom Generation, the LeBron 7 went full-length Air Max, a throwback to LeBron’s love of 90s Nike. The reverence for the past would not end there as the mudguard, especially when it used patent leather, was clearly inspired by the Air Jordan 11. The upper did use Flywire tech so it wasn’t all old hat for LeBron and Jason. Some of the most memorable colorways of the LeBron 7 include the Red Carpet, the All-Star, and a mismatched Lakers Media Day colorway that dropped years later.
(13) Takes Talents to South Beach - Nike LeBron 8 South Beach
In hindsight, LeBron’s move to Miami was the catalyst for a lot of change in the culture. From the way sports was being covered to the emergence of social media as a way for anyone and everyone to get their take off, The Decision and subsequent four-year run with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had us all on lock. Meanwhile, in the sneaker world, the reveal of the Nike LeBron 8 Preheat in a bold teal, pink, and black makeup had everybody shook. Once limited to magazines and NikeTalk forums, the casual audience was now aware of these LeBrons and were competing with the diehards to create the most eye-popping fits based on them. The sneaker was no longer just a complimentary piece, it became the whole game. The South Beach theme was so popular that it would spawn dozens of sneakers from every brand in an attempt to get a piece of that hype. Sadly, no one would ever get close and the theme would become so oversaturated that the 2021 retro failed to capture even a sliver of a percentage of the excitement of 2010.
(12) Ye and Hov - Nike LeBron 9 Watch The Throne
During the Miami stop of the Watch The Throne Tour, Kanye West and Jay-Z met up with LeBron James prior to the show. Since they were all so close at the time (deep sigh for those of us who remember those simpler days), James gifted the duo black and gold LeBron 9s with signature details highlighting their friendship along a golden lace jewel designed by Gabriel Urist. The friends and family exclusive was not as hyped as the South Beach LeBron 8 from a year prior, but it was close. Those who waited for a retail release had to remain patient for 11 long years and in that time, LeBron would move from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles, Jay-Z would become a billionaire mogul, and Kanye… well, Kanye did things…
(11) First Championship - Nike LeBron 9 Elite
“It’s about damn time.” Those were the words from LeBron when he was asked about how it felt to win his first NBA Championship. It may have taken longer than expected, but the end result was going to be satisfying no matter when it happened. The same probably can’t be said for his $250 LeBron 9 Elites that were part of Nike Basketball’s push to sell exorbitantly priced playoff basketball shoes, but they did look great regardless. Sold to the public as designed for the rigors of postseason play, the LeBron 9 Elite featured an enhanced Cushlon foam in the midsole, carbon fiber panels for better stability, and added ventilation for improved breathability. Whether these upgrades justified the price tag, the fact that they were on LeBron’s feet when he won first championship does validate them to a certain degree.
(10) Greatest MVP Sneaker - Nike LeBron X What The MVP
As we approach LeBron’s 23rd NBA season, the arguments of when he was at his absolute peak will commence. For this writer’s money, Miami LeBron was Peak LeBron, and of those seasons, the 2012-13 campaign was when we saw him take his final form. 66 wins in the regular season with a 27-game winning streak, gaudy statistics, timeless highlights, a fourth MVP, a second championship and a second Finals MVP. It would be foolish to say nobody touches peak LeBron because the internet will always find something to discredit him fair or not, but nobody has had a better MVP sneaker before or since. The Nike LeBron X What The MVP seamlessly combines elements from previous LeBron X releases that had people checking every angle to see which reference they would find next. It’s a modern classic from a modern day legend. It does make us wonder what they would have done with the shoe had LeBron not won MVP that season though…
(9) Greatest Championship Pack - Nike LeBron X Championship Pack
Just like the season prior, LeBron James would win the NBA Finals while wearing the Elite version of his signature shoes, the Nike LeBron X Elite. Dressed in red, gold, and black, the Iron Man vibes could not be denied as James - with some timely shooting from Ray Allen - delivered another banner to South Beach. The championship pack that would release a few months later included the pair that James wore for Game 7 and a special Nike LeBron X Low that references the birds of paradise and palm trees of the Miami area mixed with some Watch The Throne energy with the black and gold hits.
(8) The Block - Nike Zoom Soldier 10
LeBron’s return to Cleveland and the championship in 2016 did incalculable good for his legacy. He was no longer the person who broke the collective heart of the city on national television like it was an episode of Love Island; he was the hometown kid who made it big but came home to fulfill his promise. And the moment that’s immortalized in the hearts and minds of Cavs fans is the chasedown block of Andre Iguodala as the game and the series hung in the balance. That block didn’t actually win the Cavs the championship - Kyrie Irving’s clutch 3 can take credit for that one - but the block helped shift the momentum to Cleveland and they never looked back. And what was on LeBron’s feet? A black and gold Nike Zoom Soldier 10. Once more, LeBron turned back the clock* and went to his takedown shoe to deliver in the postseason.
*So what’s the key to knowing when LeBron will switch to Soldiers or Ambassadors or the NXXT Generations for the playoffs? Figure out if he’s a fan of the flagship model that year. In 2014, LeBron was famously not enamored with the Nike LeBron 11 so he wore the Soldier 7 for most of the regular season and into the playoffs and Finals. He wore the Soldier 10 because he wasn’t fond of the LeBron 13’s design. And if we’re being honest, as beloved as LeBron’s second run in Cleveland was, the same could not be said for his signature shoe output.
(7) Kobe Tribute - Nike Kobe 1 Protro 81 Points and Nike Kobe 5 Protro Big Stage/Parade
As the world mourned the passing of Kobe, Gianna Bryant, and the passengers of that tragic helicopter flight on January 26, 2020, LeBron James had the unenviable task of speaking on behalf of the Lakers before their first game back at Staples Center. Wearing the Nike Kobe 1 Protro colorway that Bryant famously scored 81 points in, LeBron spoke from the heart, letting the world know what Kobe meant to him and the fans and that his memory would never be forgotten. For the game itself, James would switch out to the Nike Kobe 5 Protro mash-up that combined the Kobe 5 Big Stage colorways Bryant wore in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers would end up losing that game thanks to a sensational Damian Lillard performance, but that ultimately didn’t matter as the focus was on something bigger than basketball.
(6) Wins 4th NBA Championship - Nike LeBron 18 Melon Tint
When is an NBA Championship not a real NBA Championship? When LeBron James is involved of course. Even though the circumstances of the 2020 NBA Finals were admittedly bizarre - it was played at Disney World as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on - LeBron detractors use that as a reason not to give James credit for winning a fourth ring. The discourse was so toxic that nobody had time to talk about what sneakers James was wearing when the Lakers beat the Miami Heat, and that was the Nike LeBron 18. With the Finals taking place in October, it made all the sense to debut the 18s since it would have been revealed around that time anyways if the world wasn’t a mess. James would wear a handful of colorways during the Finals, including the Melon Tint pair during the clincher. So what does this mean for LeBron’s legacy? Not a whole lot apparently.
(5) Brings Back The Mac Attacks - Nike Mac Attack
LeBron James debuting a new colorway of his signature shoes or a new Nike silhouette during a tunnel is not that uncommon. But what is uncommon is when LeBron wears a 1980s Nike Tennis classic that has been forgotten to time except the most dedicated of sneaker connoisseurs. Such was the case when James wore an original sample pair of the Nike Mac Attack in a size 15 for one of his many tunnel walks. The moment captured sneaker culture in a nutshell. Intentional or not, LeBron wearing the Mac Attacks in early 2021 sparked enough interest that Travis Scott acquired a pair a week later to add to the hype train. The thirst for them would lead to the eventual retro of the Mac Attack in 2023 and the Cactus Jack version that simply reverses the swoosh. In hindsight, Nike took way too long to drop the retro, but that’s a lesson for the brand about how fast a trend can go from the hottest thing to fizzling out and failing to capitalize on it.
(4) Space Jam: A New Legacy - Nike LeBron 19 Tune Squad
(3) Breaks Scoring Record - Nike LeBron 20 PE
The Nike LeBron 20 represented a tonal shift for LeBron and Jason Petrie. With entries that occasionally dabble into Gundam territory, the marketing for the 20 was all about the next generation, specifically LeBron’s three kids Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. Whether that’s a cynical play because the market was no longer showing interest in James’ output or the 20 felt like a perfect time for a reset and a chance for his children to pave the way as he steps back from the spotlight, the result is some of the most interesting LeBron sneakers since his Miami days. And in a moment of serendipity, the most memorable LeBron 20s are both decked out in pink. The first was the “Pink Diamond” pair in dimensional knitted mesh that he wore when he played in The Drew League for the first time in over a decade while the other that we’re featuring here is the leather-based version that he wore when he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s regular season scoring record.
(2) Wins Final Gold Medal - Nike LeBron 22 Immortalized
Despite playing in three Olympics previously, it never felt like LeBron ever had the sneaker spotlight prior to the 2024 Summer Games. In 2004, he didn’t play enough because Larry Brown was a stubborn old curmudgeon. In 2008, Kobe Bryant took on a mentor role that dominated the conversation. In 2012, he was alternating between promoting the Hyperdunk 2012 that came with the Nike+ tracking sensors and his own signature Nike LeBron X that also had Nike+. By 2024, the culture was less interested with whatever LeBron wears on the court and checking more for if he’s going to unveil something new for off-the-court use. That’s not to say the Nike LeBron 22 wasn’t an ongoing concern, but the energy wasn’t there for them despite finally wearing a gold version for the gold medal game against France. It’ll be interesting to see if the interest is there for the retail release.
(1) First To Score 50,000 Points - Nike LeBron 22 Bryce’s World PE
Designed by LeBron’s son Bryce James, this player exclusive was on James’ feet when he became the first player to score 50,000 regular-season and playoff points combined. It didn’t get the same publicity as when James broke Kareem’s record, but that’s what happens when literally every point he has scored surpassing Kareem is a new record. The shoe is more of a testament to James’ longevity and how it boggles the mind that he’s still able to play at such a high level despite playing what will soon be his 23rd season. Now let’s all recklessly speculate what sneaker he’s going to wear when he approaches 60,000 combined points.
From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com
