Nike Officially Unveils the LeBron 21

Unveiling the next chapter in basketball footwear, the LeBron XXI is engineered with the future of the game in mind. LeBron James found his design inspiration close to home—his 8-year-old daughter, Zhuri. The shoe leans into the concept of protection, using the metaphor of an oyster shell safeguarding the precious pearl within.

Crafted with lightweight materials, the shoe's upper features a design that mimics the veining of an oyster shell. This isn't just for show; it aids in containing the player's foot during quick and explosive movements on the court. To further enhance foot stability, a lightweight mono-mesh is fortified with 360 degrees of zonal cables surrounding the midfoot. And let's not forget about breathability—perforations on the medial Swoosh take care of that.

Thanks to state-of-the-art underfoot technology, foot comfort and performance aren't left behind. The forefoot houses a Zoom Turbo unit and a bottom-loaded 13-millimeter Zoom unit in the heel, designed to bolster propulsion. The full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier offers a soft, cushioned feel, and a TPU midfoot shank adds stability and dynamic responsiveness.

Jason Petrie, Lead Designer for the LeBron XXI, emphasizes, “As we took our next steps from the LeBron XX, we were inspired by the way LeBron maintains his body and his game during the offseason. His trainer says it's like taking care of an F1 car. You tweak the car between each race. You don’t need to rebuild the car completely. We wanted to retain some of the elements we know he loved, like the Zoom Turbo unit, but refine some of the finishes in the upper.”

Complementing the oyster shell concept, the shoe incorporates other distinctive features, like exposed construction on the foxing and a quilted, perforated foam tongue, which add a textured, shell-like appearance while contributing to the shoe's overall comfort.

Be ready to gear up: the LeBron XXI, offered in sizes for the entire family, hits Nike.com globally starting September 28.