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LeBron James' fourth signature sneaker, the Nike LeBron 4, debuted in 2006 and took the line to new heights. Designed again by Ken Link, the LeBron 4 became the first basketball sneaker to use Foamposite since the Ultraposite in 2003. Due to this, the shoe was heavier than the previous LeBron, the LeBron 3, by almost 3 ounces. Still, the LeBron 4 performed well for King James as heavier sneakers fit his frame better.
Its design captivated sneakerheads instantly, becoming a fan favorite on and off the court. While most of the inline colorways weren't special, a slew of fantastic player exclusives helped to make the LeBron 4 coveted by collectors. While the PEs were hard to come by and remained sought after for over a decade, Nike brought some of those iterations to the public for the first time during the LeBron 4's first retro run that began in 2023. Follow along as we review the Top 10 Nike LeBron 4's, highlighting their design, significance, and more.
Images via Nike and Flightclub
The Nike LeBron 4 Black Crimson, a standout release from February 2007, brought the Bred theme to James' fourth signature sneaker. This pair comes in a bold black and varsity crimson colorway, sporting a black-based design with crimson red accents. Worn on-court by James during the 2006-07 NBA season while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Following the footsteps of the LeBron 3, the Nike LeBron 4 also released a regional exclusive pack. Available on the West Coast, this Nike LeBron 4 comes in a clean white, midnight navy, and metallic gold colorway. The sneaker is dressed in white and navy, with gold accenting the top metal eyelets and branding throughout. A clean, solid white rubber outsole completes the look.
The Nike LeBron 4 Anthracite was initially known as the East Coast edition, as it was a part of the regional pack available exclusively on the eastern side of the United States. Over the years, this blacked-out pair became Anthracite, much like the all-black Foamposite One. Originally released in December 2006, it was retroed for the first time in December 2023.
With Foamposite on the LeBron 4, it's natural to think that Nike would adopt a color from the Foam line on James' fourth silhouette. Well, that initially wasn't the case. When the Nike LeBron 4 began its retro run in 2023, it would come to fruition, specifically in May 2024. The Nike LeBron 4 Eggplant draws inspiration from the infamous Foamposite One colorway, which came back in 2024. The varsity purple-based upper is accented in black, sitting atop an icy blue translucent outsole.
The Nike LeBron 4 line officially kicked off in October 2006. The first general release colorway, dubbed Home, comes in black, white, and varsity crimson. LeBron wore them on-court throughout the 2006-07 NBA season. Sporting a black-based upper, white and crimson red accents matched them perfectly with the Cavs uniform, and they came in a color scheme that fans have recognized and loved since the 1980s.
For the 2007 NBA All-Star festivities in Las Vegas, Nike cooked up a special colorway of the LeBron 4, perfect for the Bright Lights, Big City. Metallic Gold covers most of the upper on the Nike LeBron 4 All-Star, finished with white and red accents. Making his third NBA All-Star team, James scored 28 points in a losing effort that saw Kobe Bryant and the Western Conference emerge victorious.
For the third straight year, Nike honored LeBron James' birthday with a limited release of his latest silhouette. In December 2006, the Nike LeBron 4 B-Day was released. An online exclusive on nike.com, this pair comes in a Hardwood Classics theme, sporting a royal blue-based upper with white and orange accents. Each pair came housed in a matching messenger bag as opposed to a regular sneaker box, making this release more unique.
China-themed LeBron sneakers are no surprise. Various iterations have been released throughout the LeBron line, from his main silhouette to his takedown models. The Nike LeBron 4 China is one of the more unique pairs, bringing premium vibes to a new level. To celebrate the launch of the LeBron 4, Nike hosted a special invite-only pop-up event in NYC. While fans got a chance to cop the super limited Graffiti edition, they also had a chance to get the Nike LeBron 4 China. This pair, coming in red, white, and gold, comes housed in a special red wooden box, making them instantly sought after.
If you were fortunate enough to get invited to the Nike LeBron 4 pop-up in NYC, and got a slot during the first day, you had the best chance at copping the LeBron 4 Graffiti. Inspired by NYC, the Nike LeBron 4 Graffiti comes in a clean white, black, and red colorway featuring graffiti graphics throughout the midsole. Limited to 250 pairs, promo tagged, each came in a special messenger bag. They quickly became one of the most coveted Nike LeBron 4s. In September 2023, Nike retroed the LeBron 4 Graffiti, making it widely available to the public for the first time.
While the Nike LeBron 4 produced some great GR and limited edition colorways, its PE game was top-tier. A holy grail for LeBron collectors, the Nike LeBron 4 Fruity Pebbles edition remained an unreleased player exclusive for almost twenty years! Finally, they were confirmed for a highly anticipated release in March 2024. Inspired by James' favorite cereal, the Nike LeBron 4 Fruity Pebbles edition features a white-based design with multi-colored accents that mimic the cereal found on the midsole, the translucent outsole, insoles, and Family Size embroidery on the back heel tab. Custom, dual-branded Fruity Pebbles and LeBron logos adorn the inside tongue tag and insoles, completing the look for the most popular LeBron 4.
Each of these Nike LeBron 4 colorways represents a chapter in LeBron James' basketball journey and showcases the innovative spirit of Nike's design and technology. From the mind of Ken Link to including Foamposite, numerous player exclusives, and more, the LeBron 4 will go down as one of the best models in LeBron's signature line. To stay up to date on the Nike LeBron 4, download the Sole Retriever mobile app for the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the world of sneakers and streetwear.
Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
