As one of the greatest players in the NBA, Lebron James owns his own signature shoe model under the brand Nike – the leading shoe company in the world. Surely you know more or less about this shoe model, right? So do you own a pair of shoes in the Nike Lebron basketball shoe collection ? If not, then see the things you may not know about Lebron James basketball shoes in the article below.

1. What kind of shoes are Lebron shoes?

Lebron James shoes are the biggest deal Nike has ever made. Lebron Jame – a world-famous basketball player signed a 7-year contract worth $90 million with Nike . Lebron shoes are known for their high aesthetics and embedded technology, the first ever applied to a pair of basketball shoes. Indeed, since 2003 until now, this shoe model has dominated the market and is still on the list of the most beautiful basketball shoes in the world.

2. Things you should know about Lebron James

– Lebron James basketball shoes are Nike’s best-selling signature shoes

Nike made a great choice when they signed basketball player Lebron James. In 2014 alone, Lebron shoe sales reached $340 million. Lebron James shoes beat out the signature shoes of other NBA stars like Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. The huge sales of Lebron shoes is another testament to Lebron James’ unrivaled power both on and off the court.

– Lebron James shoes are made for giants

No other basketball star represents Nike’s cushioning technology as well as James. The brand’s first Nike basketball shoes started with the Air Zoom system (now replaced by Air Max cushioning) and its sole design allowed giants like Lebron to feel like they were walking on a cloud with the truly amazing cushioning that this shoe provided.

– The design reflects James’ love for cats

A celebrity shoe not only represents the NBA star’s name but also conveys his personality. One of them is Lebron James’ passion for cats. As it is known, the first shoe sole – Zoom Generation was inspired by the claws of a lion as if it were digging for prey. Lebron James 8 has a rather complex design on the top but it is extremely outstanding.

– There are hidden messages in Lebron James basketball shoes

It seems like we’ve all wondered about hidden messages encoded in designs, and more so when it comes to the NBA star’s signature shoes. They can be found on the heel of the Lebron James 12. One side of the heel tab has a series of numbers, which correspond to the zip code of Beaverton, Oregon – where Nike is headquartered. The other side has letters, which stand for the Genome Project – Nike’s story line for James’ signature shoes. The outsole of the Lebron 9 also has hidden messages embedded in its numbered pattern. One is a 305946 code, with 305 being the area code for Miami and 946 standing for the Lebron 9.

–  The creation of the Lebron 12 shoe – reflects an important stage in his career. 

The creation of the Lebron 12 coincided with the fans waiting for his final decision on whether he would join the Heat or the Cavaliers. This decision had an impact on the design of the shoe he was sporting. More specifically, it directly affected the color scheme and logo they had planned. The Lebron James 12 did not match any of the colorways of the line. Additionally, the design team chose not to include the number 6 in the design because James had not yet decided on the number he would wear. 

3. Generations of Lebron basketball shoes through the years

The following list details each of Nike’s annual signature shoe releases  . The chronological list includes an image of each release from 2003-2018.  

Air Zoom Generation: 2003-2004

The first Nike LeBron basketball shoe is also the shoe that his fans love the most. The Air Zoom was packed with cutting-edge technology (including Air Zoom in the forefoot and Nike Air in the heel) and the aesthetics were second to none. It’s not hard to see why this shoe, which debuted in 2003, sold out quickly every time Nike brought it back to retail shelves. 

Zoom Lebron II: 2004-2005

Lebron James’ second shoe was released in 2004, featuring a leather and mesh upper, a supportive ankle strap that made it a popular shoe among young people at the time.

Zoom Lebron III: 2005-2006

The Zoom Lebron 3 first debuted in 2005. It was both high performance and stylish, and is still a fan favorite to this day. The Zoom Lebron III features Zoom Air cushioning in the forefoot and heel, providing great support for basketball players on the court.

Zoom Lebron IV: 2006-2007

The look of the Zoom Lebron 4, which debuted in 2006, was far different from any other Lebron shoe in the line to date. It was also the first time a full-length Zoom Air cushioning unit was used in a Lebron shoe.

Zoom Lebron V: 2007-2008

The Zoom Lebron 4’s younger sibling is sleeker and more streamlined, as Nike opted for a design that’s more accessible to the masses. It’s distinguishable by its eye-catching midfoot strap, which is designed to help keep your foot locked in place while you play. However, it shares some similarities with its predecessor, like the full-length Air Zoom cushioning.

Air Max Lebron VI: 2008-2009

Nike designers have brought a simpler and cleaner look to the Zoom Lebron 6 (2018). The cushioning has been slightly adjusted.

Air Max Lebron VII: 2009-2010

One of the most famous versions of the Nike Lebron basketball shoe is the Nike Lebron 7, which appeared in 2009. This shoe uses Max Air cushioning which the Nike brand explains is designed specifically for basketball.

Air Max Lebron VIII: 2010-2011

Released in 2010, the Lebron 8 features the same Max Air cushioning as its predecessor but with a few differences.

Lebron IX: 2011-2012

The Lebron 9, which debuted in 2011, was Nike’s first shoe to combine Flywire and Hyperfuse technologies. It also featured Max Air cushioning that you could see in the heel and a low-profile Zoom Air unit in the forefoot.

Lebron X: 2012-2013

Nike equipped Lebron with 10 units of Max Air and Air Zoom cushioning, which helps the shoe absorb impact and provide more responsiveness. The sneaker, which debuted in 2012, was also the first signature model to feature the brand’s Nike+ Basketball tracking technology.

LeBron XI: 2013-2014

In October 2013, the Nike Lebron 11 debuted – a shoe that featured full-length, low-profile Air Zoom cushioning. The shoe also featured other modern Nike technologies like Hyperposite and Flywire.

LeBron XII: 2014-2015

The Nike Lebron 12 hit stores in October 2014. Nike wanted to create a shoe that offered superior cushioning, support, and flexibility. To accomplish this, the Swoosh designed the shoe with hexagonal Nike Zoom Air bags that map to the pressure points of the foot for maximum performance, and Flywire in the upper.

Lebron XIII: 2015-2016

In September 2015, Nike launched a new shoe model – Lebron 13. The shoe is designed with a mesh and Flywire upper to keep the foot stable and more breathable when used. Hyperposite material provides high durability, good support and Nike Zoom Air hexagonal units for cushioning.

Lebron XIV: 2016-2017

The Lebron 14 was launched in 2016 with Zoom Air cushioning, the upper is designed to keep the foot stable but still create a certain comfort for the user.

Nike Lebron XV: 2017-2018

The key innovation of this shoe is Battleknit – a material placed on the side of the shoe. In addition, this Lebron shoe model also has an articulated cushioning system, combined with Max Air and Zoom Air units and Bootie structure to bring safety to the user.

Nike Lebron XVI: 2018-2019

In September 2018, Nike released the Lebron 16, which featured the same full-length Zoom Air cushioning system as its predecessor. The shoe also featured a Battleknit 2.0 upper with a lower collar to allow the wearer to move more freely and quickly on the court.

Nike Lebron XVII: 2019-2020

In September 2019, the Lebron 17 was launched with several technological improvements. Nike equipped this shoe with an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot and Max Air for its cushioning system. The materials used are a combination of Flyknit and heat-molded fibers.

Nike Lebron XVIII: 2020-2021

The Nike Lebron XVIII will have the strengths of its predecessors, including the Battleknit upper from the Lebron XV, the TPU heel from the Lebron XVI, and the ExoSkeleton material and frame from the Lebron XVII. All combined into the best Lebron shoe ever. But not only inspired by the old shoes, the Lebron 18 also has its own creative nature. First, the sole has a changed structure in the chest area to create a “smoother” running step. Next, the Lebron XVIII stands out by placing a Max Air cushioning unit on the upper of the shoe. Below will be two other cushioning units including Zoom Air in the forefoot area and Air Max in the heel.

Sharing about the latest generation of Lebron James shoes, Lebron XVIII designer Jason Petrie said: “We wanted to make Lebron a shoe with two different qualities. One is the soft Air Max cushioning that Lebron loves for a powerful playing style. The other is the toe with a better foot feel for the flexibility in the direction changes, cutting runs that James often does”. Because of this factor, Lebron XVIII can be suitable for many people with many different playing styles.

Don’t hesitate to visit Authentic Shoes to choose the most suitable Nike Lebron shoes for yourself because we are constantly updating the best Lebron models of all time for you to choose from.

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