When he entered the NBA with more hype than any rookie in league history, LeBron James also received the biggest rookie shoe deal in the NBA. Even before he was drafted, he signed a seven-year, $90 million deal that guaranteed him an exclusive shoe every season of his career.
Now, 15 years later, James' Nike series is the longest consecutive shoe line for an active player in NBA history, with an entire product portfolio generating nearly $400 million annually for the brand. Along the way, his shoe has presented more than a challenge to Nike's designers.
"It's a unique problem out there. It's very fast and very powerful," said designer Jason Petrie. "When we're building a LeBron, we know all of that up front."
Ahead of the release of the upcoming LeBron 16, which will feature a slew of new stories with the four-time MVP moving to Los Angeles, we ranked the top signing line through James' career.
15. LeBron 13 (2015)
While the design can be generously described as "polarizing," the cloverleaf heel shape and overly molded Hyperposite upper materials never made it from plank to lifestyle. The flashy color of the exclusive player didn't seem to generate much interest either. Worn during James' sophomore season in his second stint in Cleveland, the shoe featured more hometown details than any other shoe, with nods to his Akron area code 330 and date of birth 12/84 and a simple statement " Akronite" throughout the outsole.
14. LeBron 12 (2014)
Nike Foamposite material has long been associated with some of the brand's most iconic and innovative silhouettes. As Nike embarked on the double-digit years of the LeBron line, his shoes began to get overconstructed, perhaps more than any average consumer cares about. For the 12th release, even James' four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and his standing atop the league couldn't beat the $200 price point and awkward out-of-the-box feel.
It didn't help that the LeBron 12 had been in the works for a year before his return to Cleveland, which meant there were still several subtle touches from his Heat No. 6 jersey, like the six Zoom Air units along the bottom. , the number on the handle, and a hexagonal icon on the tongue.
13. LeBron 14 (2016)
At two points in James's Nike series, the design team scrapped an existing look mid-process, scrambling to come up with a new concept in time for the season. Unfortunately for the LeBron 14s, the change caused a massive delay, with James not wearing the shoe until Christmas and not releasing it until January. The lack of on-court visibility hampered excitement around the model, and the stripped-down design didn't connect with consumers.
12. LeBron 6 (2008)
The other model that underwent a huge design change along the way, "The Six" was well received at the time, with a casual look that could best be described as a modern take on the Air Force 1. As Nike's designers recall, James' challenge to the team for a less technical and more jean-friendly look was simple, as he stated in one meeting, "I'm not defined by my sport."
James unexpectedly revealed his sixth sneaker at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, giving his shoe his biggest debut since his long-awaited first NBA game. With themes built around his favorite cities in the league and looking stronger and more vibrant than in years past, the LeBron 6 might seem bulky by today's standards, but it was appropriate for the moment. It was also worn during James' first MVP season, with a special edition of "Witness" ready to go the night he received the trophy from it.
11. LeBron 5 (2007)
Following the much-loved LeBron 4 design, James' fifth shoe dropped four ounces in weight. The new "Footpocket Phyposite" sounded spacer to the average person, but the molded heel and forefoot panels made for locked-down support and one of the best-performing LeBron pairs. Though the Cavs' second-round loss to the Celtics set in motion a series of playoff disappointments and their eventual departure from Cleveland, the 5 featured the first appearance of their hometown pride, with a map of Akron featured on the bottom.
10. LeBron 11 (2013)
While James' 11th shoe foreshadowed a new direction in the line's look, the shoe's Foamposite panels, snug toe box and firm ride created some on-court fit and comfort issues for LeBron.
"We're redefining the shoe to fit what's best for my foot," James said at the time. "I could use them, but they don't feel as good as I want them to feel. So we're redefining them, and I feel like this next round is going to be perfect."
He ended up wearing them in just 35 of 97 games during the regular season and playoffs, as Nike worked behind the scenes to revamp and reshape its size 16 version to fit it back into the shoe.
9. LeBron 3 (2005)
Currently enjoying its return in retro form this fall, LeBron's third model saw his series adopt a more lifestyle lens, with a seatbelt-inspired design that aimed to "combine" his unseen mix of speed and power, according to designer Ken Link.
The shoe enjoyed a limited release on James's birthday in late December in a lifestyle design, featuring a brown leather version with a matching belt. The shoe also enjoyed one of Nike's most playful marketing campaigns, with the introduction of "The LeBrons" showcasing its many dimensions and personalities, featuring the "Kid", "Athlete", "Business" and "Wise" LeBrons. n.
8. LeBron 4 (2006)
Featuring a high-contrast design that instantly grabbed the eye, the LeBron 4 introduced more sculpting and power than anyone expected. The shoe's carved Foamposite upper served as a tribute to some of LeBron's favorite sneakers from the Penny Hardaway series, while adopting a reinforced construction fit for its frame.
While the launch colors were well-received and kept to the traditional team colors, the special editions took on more graphics and textures than ever before like the cerebral-laden "Fruity Pebbles" pair or the two "Graffiti" versions worn on the Madison Square Garden and during the Las Vegas All-Star Game.
7. LeBron 10 (2012)
Getting to 10 exclusive models with one brand is rare air in the sneaker game, as only Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson did it before James. To celebrate LeBron's decade-long line and his new championship pedigree, Petrie created a story inspired by the diamond, signifying how LeBron had overcome the pressure of his title hunt.
Just like he did in 2008, James once again made use of the world stage and debuted his newest model during the gold medal game at the 2012 Olympics in London. The shoe's shiny synthetic upper featured a number of diamond-inspired shapes and details, while the heel-back Swoosh added the touch that made the shoe stand out among a sea of Nike sponsors on the court.
6. LeBron 9 (2011)
Released during the league strike in 2011, James' ninth shoe seemed to represent the growing versatility of his game, along with the protection and support required for his frame. James simply shared his goal for the upcoming season-"to become a triple threat"-and the lightbulb went off for Petrie. A three-pronged support piece highlighted the collar, while the attached panels flowed and moved throughout the undulating design from there.
The model featured more bells and whistles than ever before - with Zoom Air, Max Air, Flywire, Pro Combat and fiberglass all taking part - before evolving into an upgraded $250 "elite" version with a fiber support wing. Massive carbon and Kevlar laces. He was the elite, as LeBron won his first title with this model.
5. LeBron 2 (2004)
The Zoom generation could have been designed while LeBron was still in high school, without a full design process and ample meeting time for his direct feedback, but the LeBron 2 instantly showed his focus on the court.
James' charge into his second campaign was what he "wanted to feel bulletproof", and that led to the design of Link's debut for the series incorporating a series of leather support panels where needed and ballistic mesh. more flexible in the middle. The shoe's poorly branded removable leather strap made an iconic image on the court, while laser-etched panels below the strap debuted his lion logo.
Released in just five colors at retail, in a distinctively different era than the industry today, the LeBron 2 was known for its many exclusive player-only collectible editions, which should give it a potential retro spot in the future.
4. LeBron 7 (2009)
The series once again took a big turn, with Petrie taking to the line and peppering the LeBron 7 with several of Nike's new innovations. The full-length Air Max unit and most of the Flywire seemed to lighten the shoe and offer explosive cushioning, as James was entering the prime of a career that not only followed his first MVP but also expanded into areas of business and entertainment.
"There was a lot of style in that shoe because we were really talking about a 'CEO of culture and court' at the time and we really wanted technology to become the style element," Petrie said.
The sneaker wasn't debuted during a Cavs game, but rather on the red carpet at the premiere of James' "More Than A Game" documentary that highlights his rise from high school to pro in Akron. James's core principles - passion, brave, tradition, community, family, loyalty - can be read in the hologram icon on the bottom of the shoe, while the shiny patent leather look and sports car-inspired stance create a instant design classic.
3. LeBron 15 (2017)
Going into the Lebron 15, the Nike team knew they had a big task as they looked to restore the line after some unannounced models.
"No one has gotten to number 15 (while playing) before LeBron, so it's a big deal, and we wanted to celebrate LeBron's technology, style and game," Petrie said.
James went on to wear 51 versions of the 15 last season, generating attention nightly around his #LeBronWatch campaign. Whether with various colorways paying homage to some of the brand's greatest hits or versions inspired by some of its most beloved themes, the shoe helped rekindle interest in the line and carried it through the full 82-game season and a masterful push to an eighth straight NBA Finals appearance.
2. Air Zoom Generation (2003)
To help usher in an 18-year-old LeBron James, Nike's most recognizable superstar, the brand assigned a trio of its top designers to its first shoe. Tinker Hatfield, Eric Avar and Aaron Cooper had worked on just about every Nike Basketball signature model to date and had a bold statement for the teenager they were already nicknamed "King James."
"We'll design you the most comfortable basketball shoe you've ever worn, period," Cooper told James.
With its controversial Hummer H2 chrome providing the inspiration for the eyelets, stance, heel counter and typography, the shoe had a classic toe box design and wide collar panel that was unmistakable on the court. The shoe also debuted Nike's luxurious "Sphere Liner" technology and featured Max Air and Zoom Air cushioning. Named for the player who would define his generation, the "AZG" was the first LeBron shoe to receive the retro treatment a year ago, and has remained a favorite among the series and a favorite of James.
1. LeBron 8 (2010)
Perhaps no shoe represents LeBron's image better than his eighth model, the first shoe worn during his four-year stay in Miami.
During a promotional Nike trip the two were on during one of James's visits to China in preseason, Petrie said he thought of an iconic Jay-Z line - Check out my swag/I walk like a ballplayer Check out my swag/I walk like a player - noticing how James stood out from the crowd following him. He wanted the next LeBron shoe to similarly stand out on a store's shoe wall.
The bright green and pink color of the "South Beach" launch sure doesn't hurt, it instantly resells for nearly $1,000 and takes the popularity of James' line to a different level. While the design featured plenty of tech, like a full-length Air Max unit, the oversized lion graphic on the tongue represented one of LeBron's earliest tattoos and his ongoing quest for his first championship ring. .
"The lion stalk and the lion hunt really drove the change between the shoes and how that relates to LeBron changing as the season goes on," Petrie said.
