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The ankle strap design is meant to reflect a milk crate that he practiced on growing up, while street maps of Akron were placed on the sole and behind the tongue. The LeBron 5’s feature several unique and personal touches from James himself. Last time we saw that was on the Nike Zoom LeBron V /2t9I5Lwyavīy this time, LeBron James had adopted “The King” moniker, and Nike made it a point to reflect this nickname in a royal design for the fifth installment of his signature shoe. Wearing this shoe, LeBron led the Cavs to their first Finals appearance, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Furthermore, this shoe featured a “no-midsole” construction and an inner mesh sockliner. Aside from their great design, they were the first basketball shoe since 2003 to utilize Nike’s popular Foamposite structuring. With its flowing lines and sexy curves, the LeBron 4’s were an instant hit for many reasons. Everybody is bringing back the old school kicks lately. Carbon fiber shanks were added to the midfoot for support, while rubber outsoles provided durability and traction. For performance, Nike again utilized double-stacked Zoom Air units in the midsole. New styling notes included James’ lion head logo on the tongue and a Swoosh branding on the heel. Nike changed their design quite a bit for the LeBron III. Nike Zoom LeBron 3 “Home” expected to release in early February for $175. New traits included a double-stacked Zoom unit for more cushioning, and a new sole pattern that featured L’s and J’s. ed5hRevyFNĪfter a solid rookie season, Nike decided to roll out the next installment of LeBron’s signature kicks with the LeBron II. wearing the Nike Zoom LeBron 2 against Houston. To this day, LeBron’s first signature shoes are highly sought after among collectors. The primary cushioning pad utilized Nike’s Zoom Air, which stayed in place for the entire Nike LeBron line until the LeBron VII switched to Air Max cushioning. With a design meant to reflect the Hummer H2 he received from his mother in high school, the Air Zoom Generation incorporated molded mesh in the heel and midfoot, as well as large air ducts in the midfoot area for ventilation and weight reduction. Known as his “First Game” kicks, the designers at Nike used all of the technology at their disposal to deliver a worthy first shoe for James. gftS0lVQm8Īvid shoe connoisseurs will recognize this shoe right away.
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Air Zoom Generation: 2003-04Ī few detailed shots of Air Zoom Generation Retro "First Game". In this piece, we’ll take a look back at the various installments of LeBron’s basketball shoes with Nike. According to reports, he favored Nike’s long-term value over Reebok’s initial offer.
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#Copio lebron series
However, after a series of pitch meetings, James decided to accept a lesser offer from Nike (still $90 million). In fact, Reebok wanted to add LeBron to their stable of athletes that included Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Venus Williams. As a result, several top shoe manufacturers were hot on his trail coming out of St. Though he was young and had no NBA experience, it was clear that James, who made the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 17, was going to be a star. This move paid off in a big way, as “The Kid from Akron” would go on to become one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. Ultimately, the popular sports apparel company decided to take a chance on an 18-year-old phenom known as LeBron James. In 2003, the market strategists at Nike were searching for their next big star.
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