The 23 Best LeBrons Ever Released, Ranked

In the nearly 80-year history of the NBA, a finite number of players are able to say that they have had their own signature sneaker. Even fewer can say they have maintained a line as long as that of LeBron James. Now on its 23rd installment, with plenty of supplementary low-top variations along with subsidiary Soldier and Ambassador lines, only Michael Jordan has had a longer string of performance basketball sneakers bearing his name than LeBron has.

Considering the endless LeBron vs. MJ GOAT debates from media and fans, it seems rather fitting that Jordan’s 40-year run holds the top spot.

Since making his grand entrance with a 25-point performance back in 2003 against the Sacramento Kings with the Air Zoom Generation laced on his feet, James has built a legacy that few can rival. He’s won four regular season MVP awards. He’s been named an All-Star 16 times. He’s won four championships. Off the court, he opened the I Promise School in 2018 for at-risk children in the Akron, Ohio, area. And along the way, Nike has released plenty of great looking sneaker for him too inspired by everything from champagne bottle corks to cult-classic television series.

It’s hard to narrow it down to the very best, but with LeBron recently unveiling his 23rd model, and his quest for his fifth ring underway, we tried our best. Check out Complex Sneakers’ picks for the 23 best Nike LeBrons ever released. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: Aug. 29, 2025
Retail Price: $510 (two-shoe pack including “Metallic Blue” colorway)

If 2024 goes down as the last Olympics LeBron James ever plays in, then what a way to go out. Arguably the greatest Olympic basketball team (yes, I said arguably) ever assembled took home the gold against undoubtedly the most stacked Olympic field in history. While doing so, LeBron debuted a number of new LeBron 22 colorways, including an insane metallic gold iteration during the gold medal game against the host nation of France. The 22 itself is probably right in the middle of the pack as far as the King’s signature silhouettes go, but the legendary moment connected to this particular colorway helps cement this particular pair’s placement on this list. —Ben Felderstein

Release Date: June 21, 2023
Retail Price: $190

From the moment LeBron walked into Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, fans clamored for a release of the exclusive all-purple Air Zoom Generation he wore that night. Calls got even louder when he wore them to a Summer League game a month later, as a freshly signed member of the Los Angeles Lakers, along with a matching pair of Don C shorts. It looked like we might finally have a chance at a release when the sneaker was included as part of the Nike SNKRS LeBron James PE Vote Back program. An early exit dashed those dreams, but it turned out Nike had them on deck anyway. The colorway eventually released in 2023 (the contest-winning “Ring Ceremony” LeBron 10 has still never dropped), and while it wasn’t a huge hit, it remains an elite iteration of LeBron’s first signature model, with real moments tied to it. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: April 28, 2012
Retail Price: $250

After what some might consider a disappointing inaugural season with the Miami Heat that resulted in an NBA Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks after his infamous “not five, not six, not seven…” speech, LeBron James finally captured his first NBA title the following season after the Heatles defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the 2012 Finals. What shoe was he wearing as he celebrated his first ring? The white and gold “Home” colorway of the LeBron 9 P.S. Elite. For that reason, the sneaker will always be a special piece of LeBron’s legacy. The model came at a time when Nike Basketball was still creating postseason editions of its signature athlete’s sneakers. The 9 P.S. Elite was very much the LeBron 9 on steroids, upgraded with features like a durable Pro Combat bootie, ventilation panels added to the ankle collar, kevlar laces, and carbon fiber midfoot shank plates. All of the additions came with a hefty $250 retail price (the LeBron 9 was $170), but the shoe was built to withstand anything that the game of basketball could throw at it. LeBron actually capturing his first title in the general release colorway rather than a special player exclusive just did Nike’s marketing for them. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: May 16, 2020
Retail Price: $200

This is the only retro colorway LeBron to make the list, and that says a lot about the shoe. The LeBron 7, for numerous reasons, is an important sneaker. It changed the trajectory of his line after a few bad models and led the way for the LeBron 8, 9, and 10, all of which are held in high regard. One of the best versions of the shoe, however, isn’t one from the original run of the shoe in 2010. It’s one that came out in 2020. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals that year, and it all started with Media Day. James wore a pair of mismatched purple and yellow 7s to the affair. The sneakers, which appeared essentially as a PE, ended up releasing, giving the fans something special. They even restocked. It wasn’t hard to get your hands on a pair of the Lakers 7s, but they signify an important moment in LeBron’s career and look good, too. —Matt Welty

Release Date: Feb. 3, 2018
Retail Price: $200

I had to Google the LeBron 14 to remember which one it was. It’s certainly better than the LeBron 13, but the only one I slightly remember is the pair made to look like Acronym Prestos. Nike needed to rethink LeBron’s line, it had hit a rut. Just as the LeBron 5 and 6 were clunkers in his line, so were the LeBron 12 and 13s. Designer Jason Petrie was tasked with re-creating the magic of LeBron’s signature series that was seen in models 7-10. To move forward, he went backward with the LeBron Watch program for the LeBron 15. Nike would design LeBron 15s that were reminiscent of James’ favorite sneakers from the archive. Most notable was the Diamond Turf version, which came with a strap to mimic Deion Sanders’ shoe from the ’90s. The sneakers would launch on the SNKRS app as James wore them in games and sell out instantly. It was the marketing that brought LeBron’s sneakers back to relevancy, but the design helped, too. A LeBron sneaker is going to sell regardless—it’s LeBron James. But having the right shoe for him makes everyone want to get on it. These did just that. —Matt Welty

Release Date: March 4, 2011
Retail Price: $160

Somewhat of a time capsule release, the “Entourage” Nike LeBron 8 V/2 celebrates one of James’ all-time favorite TV shows, Entourage. For eight seasons, the series told the story of Vincent Chase, a fictional actor who rose to prominence in Hollywood while putting each of his best friends in a position to succeed on their own. Sound familiar? James was such a fan that he reportedly had his team reach out to creator Doug Ellin to book a cameo in the Season 6 finale. There isn’t an obvious palette attached to Entourage and there are no overt markings that make the connection, but the vibrant blue shoe is based on an image that doubled as a promo poster and book cover for the show. At the time, anything Entourage related resonated with sneakerheads, with Jerry Ferrara’s character Sal “Turtle” Assante being depicted as a connoisseur of kicks. Tracking down a pair wasn’t quite as challenging as securing Fukijama Air Force 1s, but they were still a priority for just about anybody who was into sneakers and HBO’s episodic hit. —Brandon Richard

Release Date: May 26, 2018
Retail Price: $175

Unreleased player samples and special makeups have been a hallmark of LeBron James’ Nike signature line since the very beginning. From white and pink colorways to honor his mother, Gloria, to school-based versions for teams like Oregon, Christ the King, and Fairfax, to alternate Cavs, Heat, and Lakers looks, many of the most coveted LeBrons have been unattainable without deep pockets or even deeper connections. One of the shoes that started that tradition, however, actually got a retail release when the “SVSM” colorway finally dropped during the Air Zoom Generation’s retro run in 2018. Since he never attended college, even casual basketball fans are well aware of the pride James holds for his high school alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary, in Akron, Ohio. The school has been laced with exclusive green and gold sneakers since the early days of the line, which made this a fitting PE to finally make available to the public 14 years after it was first seen. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: Nov. 11, 2011
Retail Price: $170

With the monumental task of following the “South Beach” 8 in the line’s lineage of Pre-Heat colorways, Nike delivered the “Cannon” Nike LeBron 9. Initially, many believed the shoe to be a nod to the local Miami Hurricanes, and that colorway did come later, but its actual backstory is a bit more intricate. Continuing to pull cues from James’ new hoop home, the militaristic look was tied to Elgin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, where the Heat held training camp to prepare for the 2010-11 season. Initially released as a Miami exclusive before a wider launch, the energy style helped set the tone for what’s widely considered one of the best LeBron signature sneakers. There’s also some on-court history with the “Cannon” 9—James laced up a pair for the star-studded South Florida All-Star Classic ahead of the NBA’s lockout in October 2011. —Brandon Richard

Release Date: Feb. 16, 2018
Retail Price: $255

The Kith x Nike LeBron collection was important for a number of reasons. At the time, a Nike Basketball collaboration of its scope was unheard of. Kith founder Ronnie Fieg worked closely with LeBron, designer Jason Petrie, and Nike’s Tim Day to create an expansive collection that included apparel, accessories, and both lifestyle and performance footwear. One of the sneaker highlights was this “King’s Cloak” LeBron 15, an on-court version of the shoe which added a zipper up the center seam. In addition to the zipper, the standout feature of this style was its elaborate floral embroidery throughout the knitted upper. Among the most limited of the Kith x LeBron sneakers, it’s also one of the most valuable, with pairs still reselling for well over $1,000. There’s also a friends and family Lifestyle version in the same colorway for those who are really looking to splurge. —Riley Jones

Release Date: Aug. 10, 2013
Retail Price: $500

Remember the glory days of Nike Basketball? Remember the wild colorways and overwrought designs that fetched hundreds of dollars? Remember the lineups and early social media frenzy over limited sneakers from LeBron, Kobe, and KD? Remember when LeBron’s sneaker line had a yearly regular season offering, a low version, and a beefed-up postseason version? These recollections demand mention of the Nike LeBron 10 “Champ Pack,” a two-sneaker box set from 2013 that celebrated LeBron James’ second consecutive championship with the Miami Heat. The package retailed for $500. The shoes in it, LeBron 10 PS Elite and a LeBron 10 Low, were sufficiently gaudy for Miami outings, dressed in black, red, gold, and floral patterns. The duo might look clunky or brash now, with basketball sneakers waning in importance, but they were undoubtedly a fitting marker of that moment—for both LeBron and sneakers as a whole—when they released in August 2013. Maybe you had to be there. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: Jan. 6, 2022
Retail Price: $230

The “Watch the Throne” Nike LeBron 9 originally appeared as a PE in 2011. Things looked a lot different then than when the shoe finally dropped at retail, over 10 years later, in 2021. LeBron was still chasing his first NBA title, and Jay-Z and Kanye West were on good terms, touring in support of their collaborative Watch the Throne album, and Givenchy and Riccardo Tisci were one of the hottest brand-designer duos around. Those elements all collided to create one of the most coveted LeBrons ever—one that resold for five figures at a time. A lot has changed though in the years since. Kanye West? His association certainly hasn’t helped this sneaker’s reputation. Riccardo Tisci? He’s also seen better headlines. LeBron though? He certainly held up his part of the bargain, amassing four rings, topping 40k career points, and even sharing the court with his son, Bronny. So, while the “Watch the Throne” 9 has a little baggage, it’s not enough to tarnish one of the most legendary exclusives from the history of the line, thanks to LeBron. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: Dec. 30, 2017
Retail Price: $200

The LeBron 15 represents a resurgence of sorts for LeBron’s signature line. After a few years of lackluster showings compounded following the insane popularity of pairs like the 8, 9, and 10, the 15 righted the ship with a renewed focus on lifestyle appeal the recent pairs had lacked. To ensure the 15 crossed over appropriately, Nike tapped one of streetwear’s biggest names, Kith founder Ronnie Fieg. The relationship began in September 2018 when LeBron made a surprise appearance to close out Kith’s “Kith Sport” Spring 2018 runway show at New York Fashion Week to the tune of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “H.A.M.” One of the first pairs to actually release as a result of the partnership was the “Rose Gold” colorway of the 15, designated for performance use, that had been given a premium remix by Fieg with the addition of a rose gold Riri zipper down the center of each foot’s blush-pink Battleknit upper. LeBron would ultimately lace up the collab during a memorable Christmas Day matchup with the Golden State Warriors. It was released to the public a few days later on his birthday alongside two of Fieg’s lifestyle versions of the 15 as part of the first chapter of the “Long Live the King” collection. Not only is it one of the best LeBrons ever, it’s one of Fieg’s best efforts as well. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: Aug. 1, 2010
Retail Price: $160

The LeBron 7 is regarded as one of the best LeBron models by many, but it came at an interesting point in the player’s career. He was seemingly at the top of his game—he would be awarded his second straight MVP award that season, but what fans didn’t know was that it would also be the last shoe that King James would lace up as a Cleveland Cavalier for his first stint with the team. Like it did with the LeBron 6 a year prior, Nike decided to celebrate LeBron’s latest MVP honors with a commemorative colorway of the 7. The “MVP” 7 swapped out the usual Flywire panels across the upper for quilted gray fleece, while a dual-layered wine and gold chenille Swoosh furthered the classic letterman jacket theme. Finishing touches included gold metal top eyelets, a special “MVP” insignia stitched on the medial heel, “Witness History” etched across each heel tab, and a gold-flaked translucent sole, an intricacy carried over from the “MVP” 6. All in all, there’s no way to really deny how beautiful the execution here is. But it’s made that much better for what it commemorates. Nike even brought it back for a retro run in June 2020 proving just how memorable the color scheme was among plenty of great 7s that released back in 2010. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: Nov. 11, 2006
Retail Price: $150

Though he’s never called it home, LeBron James has always expressed an affinity for playing in New York City. Like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant before him, James viewed road games against the Knicks as an opportunity to showcase his talent on the biggest stage there is—Madison Square Garden. In November 2006, he marked his return to “The Mecca” by breaking out a special “Graffiti” colorway of the Nike LeBron 4 tagged with a scrawl that would look at home on the city’s walls. The day before the game, Nike opened a pop-up shop in SoHo to launch the LeBron 4, including a limited run of the “Graffiti” colorway. Hundreds camped out ahead of the opening, making quick work of the shop’s 250 pair allotment. James went on to wear an alternate PE colorway in the 2007 All-Star Game, but that version never made it to retail. Nike brought the shoe back as a retro in 2023, and the “Graffiti” colorways were also celebrated with releases of corresponding makeups of the LeBron 17 in 2020. —Brandon Richard

Release Date: Sept. 2, 2011
Retail Price: $150

Oh, what could have been. This flashy version of the LeBron 8 V/2 Low had its story spoiled by fate and the Dallas Mavericks. The shoe was originally designed as a celebratory colorway meant to release once LeBron James and the Miami Heat won an NBA title in 2011. Its graphic and radiant upper represented the confetti that would surely fall after James secured his first championship in South Beach. Except it didn’t happen, not until the next year at least. And while this shoe didn’t get the moment it originally deserved—rather than a grand rollout, Nike dropped pairs overseas in summer 2011 and then did a limited launch that September at NikeTown in Miami—it still stands as one of the best examples of how bright and bold basketball sneakers could be at the time. LeBron’s Lows have generally not been very impactful, but the LeBron 8 Low is the best of the bunch and returned as a retro in 2023. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: Dec. 30, 2006
Retail Price: $150

The Nike Zoom LeBron 4 is unlike any other sneaker in the line. For starters, it’s a Foamposite. LeBron James’s early sneakers all resembled boots to some degree, but this sneaker took it to another level. A basketball sneaker doesn’t get much more indestructible than the LeBron 4. But its design is also not par for the course for a Foamposite sneaker. The midsole has a wave-like flow up the side of it, making it stand out from the upper. The most memorable colorway of the LeBron 4 (to originally release, at least) was the “Birthday” pair made for, you guessed it, James’s birthday on Dec. 30, 2006. The sneakers were a members-only release on Nike.com, making them a tad more exclusive. (Other LeBron 4 colorways released as regional exclusives.) The colorway of shoe—white, orange, and blue—was a throwback to Cleveland Cavaliers uniforms of yesteryear. The shoes themselves came in a special dopp-kit-like bag and the Knicks-esque colorway of the shoes gave the New York faithful an inkling of hope that James would sign with the Knicks one day. All they were left with was a good pair of shoes. —Matt Welty

Release Date: Feb. 23, 2013
Retail Price: $250

In 2013, LeBron James was on top of the world. He had, for the first time in the NBA season the year prior, become a champion. His already long list of career accolades now included a title win and a Finals MVP award with the Miami Heat. (He and Team USA also casually picked up a gold medal at the London Olympics that year.) A celebration was in order. Well after the locker-room festivities, parades, and rings, the celebration took shape in sneaker form with the LeBron 10 EXT “Cork.” The design challenged conceptions of what a modern basketball shoe could look like, replacing the tech materials with actual cork in reference to the many bottles popped after that championship win. In fact, it was less a basketball shoe than any Nike LeBron before it, this one created with Nike Sportswear, the more lifestyle-leaning division of Nike. It came in a time when every sneaker brand was convinced that every sneaker needed a story, Few LeBron sneakers of that era told their story as well as this one. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: Dec. 3, 2009
Retail Price: $160

In 2009, it was clear LeBron James was going to be a special kind of superstar, but he had yet to win a title and was far from the battle-hardened veteran we know today. Still finding his stride, James was in his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers when the team hit the road to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden early in the 2009-10 NBA season. The then-24-year-old showed flashes of greatness, shooting 12-for-17 and dropping 33 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds on the hometeam. He did so in the “Red Carpet” LeBron 7, a shoe notable for not matching the Cavaliers’ uniforms during an era when the league had stricter rules about sneaker colors. Nevertheless, no reports of fines ever surfaced, and the colorway went on to become one of the most popular LeBron 7s. Designated as NFW (no Flywire) compared to its Flywire-equipped counterparts, this LeBron 7 was one of a few OG colorways to receive the retro treatment when it re-released in October 2019. —Riley Jones

Release Date: March 7, 2024
Retail Price: $250

Given that this list is limited to sneakers that actually released at retail, a good deal of classics had to be left off. For nearly 20 years, the “Fruity Pebbles” Nike Zoom LeBron 4 was one of those shoes. It was long, one of the most coveted LeBrons ever created, but only available to a handful of friends and family of LeBron or those willing to shell out major cash. That all changed in 2024, though, when the sneaker got a proper release, complete with a full Kith Treats activation that included special packaging and cereal bowls. Such literal interpretations of a theme rarely work, but this one does because the visual treatment is so overstated, colorful, and just plain fun. The wider launch certainly took some of the prestige away from the original, but the colorway remains one of the most recognizable in the line’s history. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: Feb. 13, 2004
Retail Price: $110

It seems hard to believe there was ever a time when LeBron James was in the NBA and wasn’t an All-Star, but he actually missed the cut his rookie season—despite posting solid numbers and largely delivering on the massive expectations placed upon him. James was still at All-Star Weekend in 2004, though, and had a sneaker for the occasion that went on to become one of the line’s most memorable. He laced up the “Wheat” Timberland-style colorway for a Rookie Challenge game that also featured the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade as they took on a sophomore class that included Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, and Manu Ginóbili. The sneaker dropped at retail that same All-Star Weekend, and then returned as a retro in 2018. A similar colorway dropped a year prior for All-Star 2017 in the form of a Vachetta Tan edition, but the original nubuck version is the one with all the history. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: Feb. 24, 2012
Retail Price: $170

Flanked by a Kobe 7 and a KD 4, the LeBron 9 “Big Bang” highlighted Nike’s 2012 “All-Star” Pack that took the basketball sneaker world by storm. All three sneakers featured galactic color schemes, but the striking orange makeup of the King’s signature shoe set it apart from the rest. Inspired by space suits of Ohio astronauts, a NASA-style lion patch is stamped on the tongue, while a colorful array of cosmic hues take shape on its inner lining. While James’ Eastern Conference squad eventually lost the game by three, LeBron managed to rack up 36 points to go along with six rebounds and seven assists with this vibrant pair laced up on his feet. The colorway returned as a retro in 2022.—Ben Felderstein

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2003
Retail Price: $100

Despite its name, the “First Game” Air Zoom Generation technically wasn’t the pair worn by LeBron for his first professional game. That distinction went to the Air Zoom Generation’s white, black, and red makeup, worn by James during his first NBA regular season game, a road contest against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 29, 2003. Still, the “First Game” Air Zoom Generation is important in its own right, having been laced up by LeBron during his first home game in Cleveland. Days after the season opener, the Cavaliers hosted the Denver Nuggets from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (then the Gund Arena), and that’s when James finally broke out this historic pair. The Cavaliers took an L—their fourth in a row—and LeBron didn’t have a particularly noteworthy showing, but this is a case where the sneakers outshine the on-court moment. There aren’t many players with a sneaker legacy like LeBron, and this is where it all started. —Riley Jones

Release Date: Oct. 16, 2010
Retail Price: $160

There’s really no arguing against the “South Beach” LeBron 8 being the best LeBron sneaker of all time. LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach after seven seasons as a Cleveland Cavalier was going to be the biggest basketball news of Summer 2010 regardless. The jerseys had already been burned in Cleveland. He was already painted as the NBA’s biggest villain after his infamous “The Decision” telecast. But Nike still had to make sure to mark the move to Miami with a splash of its own to guarantee that King James’ first shoe as a member of the Heat would be unforgettable. The brand did it in a major way with this Miami Vice-inspired color scheme of the LeBron 8, the first of the “Pre-Heat” releases that have become a Nike Basketball standard ever since.

Its Filament Green leather upper was like nothing we had seen from the Nike LeBron line up to that point. Swapping in the hot pink extra laces (a mandatory move) was the perfect detail to make the shoe stand out even more, even during an era full of brightly colored sneakers. It even sparked a trend all its own that saw the teal and pink color palette dress everything from Air Max NMs to Asics Gel-Lyte IIIs at the time. Quite frankly, the “South Beach” 8 was unavoidable in 2010, no matter how closely you followed sneakers. It remains a grail for many because of that hype, LeBron fan or not. Thankfully, Nike blessed us with a retro release in 2021. Sneaker culture has become more and more mainstream over the years. Every week is filled with coveted pairs, but one could argue that we don’t get to this point without this shoe. —Mike DeStefano

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