A Brief History of the Nike LeBron Signature Line

About Nike Basketball

Although Nike started as a footwear running company, the Swoosh’s impact on hardwood can’t go unnoticed.

From Michael Jordan and the beginning of the Air Jordan line to the golden age of performance basketball in the mid to late ’90s, Nike Basketball has been at the top of the food chain.


Before LeBron James began his reign in the NBA, the then 18-year-old penned a 7-year, $90 million contract with Nike in 2003 to become the next face of Nike Basketball.

The Nike LeBron signature line kicked off with the Nike Air Zoom Generation. Inspired by LeBron’s affinity for the Hummer H2, Tinker Hatfield, Eric Avar, and Aaron Cooper translated the design language of the vehicle along with LeBron’s combination of speed and strength. 

Through the years, the Nike LeBron line has seen countless colorways and innovations, primarily at the peak of Nike Basketball in the early 2010s with the Nike LeBron 7, the Nike LeBron 8, the Nike LeBron 9, and the Nike LeBron X. From the Nike LeBron 8 “South Beach” colorway to the Nike LeBron 10 “Cork” iteration, the LeBron James and his signature shoe line took over on and off the court. 

The newly announced Nike LeBron 20 marks a new era for The King. As the Nike LeBron line has been typically known for its bulky design with visible Max Air tech, the all-new Nike LeBron 20 ushers in a new era for the line with a low-top cut, slimmer look, and an off-court aesthetic that was nearly absent in previous models. 

Aside from being designed for The King himself, the Nike LeBron 20 is catered to the next generation of basketball players with Bronny and Bryce James wearing the shoe alongside other young hoopers. 

Evidently, the Nike LeBron line is the best that Nike Basketball has to offer for the past, present, and future of the sport.

Learn where to buy Nike LeBron shoes here

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