Nike Unveils the LeBron XXIII Signature Collection, Celebrating Basketball’s Forever King

Fit for the Forever King. Built to power future greats.

Nike is introducing the LeBron XXIII, an innovative game shoe that honors the unparalleled career of the Forever King while fueling the rise of future generations.

The new silhouette pairs Nike’s industry-defining technology with unmatched storytelling that pays homage to 23 stories of greatness — each one revealing a piece of the legend and the man behind it. One way that innovation and narrative converge: the Crown, a LeBron-only symbol that doubles as a technological feature within the shoe. 

“The LeBron XXIII reflects the deep partnership I have with Nike, pushing the limits of design and innovation to create a new signature shoe that powers my game and tells the story of my career,” says LeBron James. “Over two decades later, we’re still going strong, inspiring the next generation with a shoe that’s made for greatness.”

For nearly a quarter-century, Nike has partnered with LeBron to push the boundaries of sport science, innovation and design to fuel his performance atop the game, empower the next generation of hoopers and inspire athletes around the world.

The LeBron XXIII is the latest signature silhouette built in that image, channeling the Forever King’s insights into a game shoe designed to help him, and the athletes who follow in his footsteps, impacting every play and possession all season long.

For the first time in LeBron’s signature lineage, the LeBron XXIII features a full-length ZoomX drop-in midsole, delivering responsiveness and game-changing court feel. The drop-in midsole, made of Nike’s lightest and most responsive foam, pairs with a new Crown Containment System that delivers stability for high-force movements.

A carbon fiber shank beneath the midsole and containment system provides torsional support to further accentuate power and speed, and a dynamic, multi-directional traction pattern improves grip for quick cuts.

All the while, a lightweight engineered upper and soft interior lining offer standout comfort and breathability, keeping athletes cool as the game heats up. 

“One of the things that’s so powerful about the LeBron XXIII is that the foot engages directly with our ZoomX foam, enabling an unmatched level of connectivity and court feel,” says Ross Klein, Senior Director, Men’s Basketball Footwear Product Design. “There’s nothing that beats ZoomX: The energy return, the responsiveness, the weight, the sensation — it hits every level of what athletes love.”

Further, Klein says: “From ZoomX foam to a carbon fiber shank and our new Crown Containment System, the LeBron XXIII is really about the best materials, channeling simplicity and reductivity into a design built right for both the Forever King and the next generation.”

LeBron’s journey to Forever King comes to life through 23 legacy-defining stories, told through unique colorways that reflect the milestones he’s achieved throughout his career. The Uncharted launch colorway, for example, commemorates LeBron’s milestone of becoming the first NBA player to score more than 40,000 points. The second colorway to become available, Miami Twice, recalls his back-to-back NBA titles and Finals MVPs, while the third style, The Chosen One and the One Who Chose, celebrates him and his son, Bronny, becoming the NBA’s first father-son duo to play for the same team on October 22, 2024.

Nike Basketball apparel teams have designed unique graphic tees highlighting each of the 23 stories that will launch at the same time as its corresponding LeBron XXIII colorway. Each silhouette will come packaged in a unique, crown-molded box from one of three eras of LeBron’s career: “The Chosen 1 Arrives” (2002-2010); “Taking the Throne" (2010-2018); and “Long Live the King,” beginning in 2018. Each box will include a booklet featuring all the stories of the Forever King journey, and each shoe will come with a charm that matches the heel icon of its specific colorway. 

The LeBron XXIII silhouette is joined by the Forever King apparel collection, which includes premium jerseys and shorts that recall his career with St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. The collection also features elevated apparel styles, including two jackets, a hoodie, pant and short. The sportswear pieces incorporate premium material executions, trim finishes and metal grommets, as well as Forever King drawcord clamps, woven jock tags and lion embroidery. 

“When it comes to LeBron’s Forever King Signature apparel collection, we knew we had to elevate our offerings to make them fit for a king,” says Wil Green, Senior Director, Basketball Apparel. “We obsessed the styles from past LeBron apparel lines throughout the three eras. What were those styles of shorts, pants, hoodies, jackets, jerseys and shorts that were hot during those eras? We took those insights and modernized the cuts and elevated the finishes to meet LeBron’s standard. Working hand-in-hand with our footwear teams allowed us to create a complete head-to-toe Forever King Collection that blends nostalgia with modern luxury.”

LeBron unveiled his latest signature silhouette during his Forever King Tour of China, which serves to deepen his connection with some of the world’s most passionate hoopers and basketball fans.

The tour marks LeBron’s 15th trip to China as a Nike signature athlete and the 20th anniversary of his first Nike tour of Asia, underscoring a shared, longstanding commitment to giving back to the game around the world by championing athletes, inspiring the next generation, and fueling global basketball culture. The tour also reflects a shared belief in the power of basketball to build bridges between countries, challenge young athletes to chase their dreams, and create lasting impact among athletes and fans.

The LeBron XXIII will become available in the Uncharted launch colorway in China beginning September 25 before launching globally at nike.com and select retail locations October 3. Additional colorways will become available over the coming months. The Forever King apparel collection launches ahead of the upcoming holiday season.