5 Best Nike Lebron Basketball Shoes in 2023
LeBron James isn’t called ‘The King’ for nothing. His signature basketball shoes dominate the market as much as he dominates the court.
With over 20 LeBron models available on the market, we have reviewed them all to select the best. Whether you are after a low-top, a shoe for playing outdoors, or a more budget-friendly signature shoe, we have selected the top picks in each of these categories.
To learn more about LeBron James and his basketball shoe collections, check out the guide sections below.
How we test basketball shoes
The best Nike Lebron basketball shoes are ranked according to their CoreScore. A corescore is an aggregate numerical assessment that is based on reviews by players, expert reviewers, and even ordinary users.
Best Nike Lebron basketball shoes overall
What makes it the best?
A Nike LeBron shoe is considered synonymous with quality. Hence, it requires a lot to rise above all the Nike LeBron kicks in our inventory. We’ve experienced how the LeBron 20 doesn’t hold back on durability, grip, and even court feel! Hence, we crown it as the reigning king in LeBron James’s Nike arsenal.
The Dremel test results on this shoe are impressive. We subjected the toe area of the upper to aggressive friction, which is way more than what guys normally experience on-court. No hole in sight after that. With this, we dare say that even frequent toe draggers can’t break down this shoe’s upper.
We thoroughly enjoyed a consistent grip in a good number of games. But we were more surprised by the amount of responsiveness that this shoe delivers. Using a durometer, we learned that the cushion is only 7% softer than average. This is a big thing since Nike LeBrons have always been big on compression to the detriment of court feel. The LeBron 20 breaks tradition as it offers a more balanced responsiveness-cushioning experience.
The width of the forefoot is worth the mention. Most shoes aren’t really for wide feet, but the LeBron 20 again deviates from this trend. Our caliper measurements show that this shoe adds almost 4mm to the forefoot width. With this, it should be clear that this is not a shoe for the narrow-footed.
Pros
- Amazing overall performance
- Great traction
- Tremendous impact protection
- Pronounced court feel
- Dependable bounciness
- Comfortable upper
- Incredible foot containment
- Stylishly streamlined looks
Cons
- Not for outdoors
- Has to be broken in
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Best Nike Lebron basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Top-tier cushioning
- Fantastic lockdown
- Fits snug with great support
- Trustworthy traction to stop on a dime
- Breathable
- Durable materials
Cons
- Break-in period needed
- Not for outdoor play
- Pricey
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Best Nike Lebron basketball shoes for outdoor
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Remarkable overall performance
- Highly effective traction
- Impressive impact protection
- Optimum comfort
- Reliable heel lockdown
- A lot of lateral stability
- Great outdoor option
- Accommodates wide feet well
- Fashionable design
Cons
- So-so court feel
- Still has to be broken in
- Overly stretchy forefoot materials
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Best Nike Lebron basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Good traction
- Nice fit
- Adjustable straps
- Wiggle room for the toes
- Breathable
- Looks great
- Comfy cushion
- Supportive
Cons
- Squeaking sound
- Not durable
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Most popular Nike Lebron basketball shoes
What makes it the most popular?
Pros
- Largely effective traction
- Very comfortable wraparound feel
- Lightest LeBron shoe to date
- Effective foot containment
- Nice bounce and court feel
- Impressive impact protection
- Simply of nice quality
- Standout style and looks
Cons
- Torsional stability isn't so good
- Surprisingly not for wide feet
- Still kinda expensive
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Comparison of the 5 best Nike Lebron basketball shoes
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Are LeBron shoes right for you?
Signature shoes are designed to suit the very specific needs of the players that they are named after. Consequently, Nike LeBron shoes are perfect for you if you have LeBron James’s physical characteristics and playing style.
Player profile
Tall and huge, James is easily among the league’s most standout players:
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Height |
6’8” |
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Weight |
250 lbs |
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Position Played |
SF/PF/SG/PG |
Playing style
In spite of his size, James is still quite flexible on the court. He assumes positions normally occupied by smaller players such as Stephen Curry. Yet, his playing style is much more aggressive, mowing down defenders rather than gliding through them. This requires much more brute force, and less of the shiftiness and agility common in smaller players.
The different Nike LeBron collections
James has at least three lines of Nike signature shoes available in the United States.
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Collection |
Description |
Key Characteristics |
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LeBron James’s main line; every release usually bears a new Nike technology |
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A line of LeBron shoes that focus on lockdown and support. |
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Nike LeBron Witness |
This is LeBron James’s line of more affordable takedown models |
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Styling with the best LeBron shoes
Nike LeBron basketball shoes are as pretty as they are high-performing. They are of use even when you are off the court.
Low, mid, or high? Pick what you want.
James is usually seen donning high-tops or mid-tops on the court. Even if he does not wear them in his games, Nike LeBrons are still available in low-top versions. In fact, some of his other shoes debuted as among the league’s most anticipated low-tops.
Know your color
LeBron shoes are available in hundreds if not thousands of colorways. However, there are a few that regularly get referenced:
Black History Month. James is known for his activism. His signature lines pay homage to the triumphs of people of color through the Black History Month (BHM) colorways. Shoes for Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Paul George are also given the BHM treatment.
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. James regularly pays his respects to his alma mater through green SVSM iterations.
James’s current team. The NBA team that James plays for automatically gets a special colorway, which usually features that team’s characteristic hues.
LeBron shoes: Are they worth their price?
It’s no secret that the best LeBron shoes are also among the priciest basketball shoes in the market. They are up there with Michael Jordan’s sneakers.
So that buyers get their money’s worth when they get LeBron’s shoes, Nike makes sure that it is equipped with highly advanced shoe technologies. Some of these techs are used only on LeBron sneakers.
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Techs used only on LeBron basketball shoes |
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Battleknit |
Innovated from Flyknit, Battleknit becomes increasingly stiff at the midfoot where stability is most needed. This is used in the LeBron 15. |
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Battleknit 2.0 |
For the LeBron 16, Battleknit gets an upgrade. Its tensile strength is increased to provide even more lateral support. |
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Knitposite |
First used on the LeBron 17, Knitposite is basically Flyknit infused with heat-molded yarn that makes it more durable and supportive. |
