Nike LeBron 23 "Bubble Boy" Recalls 2020 NBA Finals at Walt Disney World

LeBron James has been on the receiving end of countless criticism since his earliest days in the NBA. Some folks will never be convinced into considering him one of the greatest basketball players of all-time—let alone better than Michael Jordan. In recent history, one detail that's come under scrutiny his the Ohio-native's fourth ring. The Nike LeBron 23 "Bubble Boy" recalls this moment.

Part of Nike Basketball's ongoing celebration of James' milestone 23rd signature model and NBA season, the sneaker joins in on commemorating almost two dozen stories by way of special colorways of the sneaker. "Bubble Boy" looks back to Oct. 11, 2020, the date on which the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Miami Heat in Game 6 of that year's NBA Finals. Held at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, the tournament was under strict rules due to the global health pandemic of the time. With no crowd physically present at the game, save for coaching staff and select members of players' families, James and company beat the Heat 106-93 to secure the championship.

In the aftermath of that Playoffs run, "King James" naysayers took to the internet to discredit the win. Nicknames for the achievement spawned across social media—namely "Mickey Mouse Ring" and "Bubble Ring—further attempting to devalue James' fourth NBA ring. Ever-cognizant of what goes on online, the 40-year-old and his Nike Basketball family have cheekily referenced the occasion through a graphic t-shirt and LeBron 23 duo. The former sees James stylized like Walt Disney characters while dressed in regal garb alongside a Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and Finals MVP award.

As for the sneaker, X user @ImagesByStashed has provided an early look at the pair. The "Bubble Boy" LeBrons feature a relatively understated color execution across its narrative-inspired build; purple flair outlines the crown-shaped mold underfoot while also taking on thew semi-translucent outsole. A multi-colored swoosh logo arrives on the lateral mid-foot, differing from some of the other LeBron 23 offerings.

The "Bubble Boy" basketball shoe is expected to release via Nike.com by Spring 2026. Men's and Big Kids' sizing will be available.

For more sneaker news from the Swoosh empire, check out all Jordan releases remaining in the year (and some confirmed for 2026).