LeBrotherly Love: Philadelphia’s Best Signature Sneakers

LeBron James is heading to the City of Brotherly Love.

Drivers started hanging out the window and honking on Broad Street as soon as Shams broke the news about LeBron’s final landing spot, as Philly entered a euphoric tailspin. Knowing the city, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Sixers fans hanging from lightposts and lighting trash cans on fire to celebrate the good news. It is the weekend, after all.

With the vibes high from Bella Vista to Strawberry Mansion and everywhere in between, we started taking a look back at Philly’s most iconic signature sneakers over the years. From Allen Iverson’s iconic Reebok line to Bryce Harper’s recent SEPTA-themed All-Star cleats, Philly has a long and storied sneaker history to match its relentless sports fandom.

Check out our top 10 favorite Philly signature shoes in no particular order, and hit us up on X and Instagram at @soleretriever to let us know which of your favorites we left off the list.

Reebok Question - Allen Iverson

The question and the answer: Allen Iverson is Philly’s GOAT. The 76ers legend helped establish Reebok as a basketball shoe brand to be reckoned with in the 1990s, debuting The Question in 1996. Iverson’s Question and Answer signature shoes have been retrod consistently in the 30 years since, and there’s nowhere in the world where the shoe is more popular than Philly.

Nike LeBron 23 - LeBron James

The King has arrived. LeBron’s Nike line is one of the most storied and longest-running sneaker franchises in footwear history, and just like Jordan’s continuing numbered drops, there’s no sign that LBJ and Nike are stopping anytime soon. While we wait for an announcement about the upcoming LeBron 24, the crown-shaped LeBron 23 is now Philly’s most prominent signature shoe, with pallets of pairs no doubt heading to Philly sneaker retailers at this very moment. We should’ve known his decision when we saw the Dreams & Nightmares colorway earlier this year.

Converse Pro Leather - Julius Irving

LeBron is joining one of the league’s most storied franchises, whose sneaker history goes back far beyond Maxey, Embiid, and Iverson. Julius Irving, aka Dr. J, celebrated the team and the nation’s 200th birthday with the Converse Pro Leather in 1976, debuting the iconic silhouette before Magic and Bird changed the face of Converse with the Weapon in the ‘80s.

New Balance Maxey v1 - Tyrese Maxey

LeBron isn’t the only current Philadelphia 76er with his own signature sneaker. There are actually four signature athletes on the Sixers, but with Embiid repping Skechers and Jaylen Brown wearing his own 741 models, those two didn’t make the cut. Philly is a New Balance city though, so Tyrese Maxey’s Maxey v1 is definitely on the board. Debuted during the play-in tournament last season, the New Balance Maxey v1 is a bright spot from New Balance’s revamped basketball line.

Air Jordan 5 Fresh Prince - Will Smith

Friday’s Shams bomb immediately turned LeBron into Philly’s most famous celebrity (sorry, M. Night Shyamalan), but he’s got competition on a historic scale when it comes to Will Smith. The Fresh Prince started his career as a West Philly rapper and turned his California move into a sitcom legend that inspired a laceless pair of Grape Air Jordan 5 based on Will’s Philly-raised fashion sense.

Under Armour Cleats - Bryce Harper

Phillies superstar Bryce Harper has a new peer in town, and his latest signature cleat from Under Armour set its own footwear record. Harper’s 11 signature models put him in the history books with the most on-field cleats for any signature baseball player in history. He’s still 12 pairs short of LeBron and 30 pairs behind Jordan, but with pairs like his debut Harper 11 SEPTA collection paying tribute to Philly’s public transit system, he’s already cemented a spot in Philly fans’ hearts.

Air Jordan 11 Jawn Air - Jalen Hurts

Philly is still a football town, and before we start planning a Broad Street parade for the Sixers, it’s nice to remember the most recent championship in the city, courtesy of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. One of Jordan Brand’s marquee NFL stars, the Air Jordan 11 Jawn Air is a green suede 11 made for Hurts with Philly’s favorite multi-meaning piece of slang inscribed on the tongue logo. That’s a good jawn.

Nike Air Force 1 - Gritty

You thought we were gonna leave out the Flyers? LeBron’s new home in South Philly doubles as a hockey arena on off nights, and when the ice rink is out, the best mascot in sports is causing mayhem. Gritty, the orange monster who leads the Flyers to glory has been in the news lately for a de facto signature model from Nike. The Nike Air Force 1 Low Technicolor Tale Orange Pony Hair looks like an extension of the Gritty suit, and we expect to see plenty of pairs in the stands rooting on Gritty and the gang during Philly hockey season.

Nike SB Air Force 1 - Nocturnal Skate Shop

Philly’s sports legacy expands far beyond the stadium complex. The city is world-renowned for its skate culture, producing pros like Stevie Williams and Josh Kalis, Bam Margera, and Ishod Wair. Nocturnal Skate Shop off South Street has been the city’s skate hub for two decades, and the store is finally getting its props from Nike SB. The Nike SB Air Force 1 Nocturnal is part of the upcoming debut set of SB Air Force 1 collabs, adding grey and green Eagles colors to the new take on the classic silhouette.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com