Nike LeBron 15: King James Brings It Full Circle
When James returned for a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he debuted the Nike LeBron 15. Jason Petrie, who has designed shoes for King James since the LeBron 8, had some new tricks in his bag. He incorporated a fresh iteration of the innovative Flyknit material called Battleknit and added cushioning to meet the explosive demands of LeBron's powerful execution on the hardwood. The LeBron 15 launched in October 2017 with an original retail price of $AUD2401* and was available in both high-top and low-top silhouettes.
1Australian Price indication converted from US$185.
*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Cultural Impact of the Nike LeBron 15
There's a pair of game-worn Nike LeBron 15 Equality running shoes in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. LeBron debuted this shoe on opening night of the 2017-2018 NBA season. Equality is a monochromatic black or white colourway with the word "Equality" stitched in gold on the back of the shoe. The Nike LeBron 15 Equality was available exclusively through an online drawing in February 2018. Running shoe fans who made a $AUD132* donation to the museum were entered to win one of only 400 pairs–200 pairs in the black colourway and 200 pairs in the white. Running shoe enthusiasts lucky enough to find a pair on the resale market can expect to pay upwards of $AUD1,9503*.
The LeBron 15 was the first Nike LeBron running shoe to be seen on a fashion runway. Partnering with New York-based boutique KITH, lifestyle and performance basketball versions of the running shoe were aesthetically remixed by designer Ronnie Fieg. King's Crown, one of the rarest in the LeBron 15 collection, features intricately embroidered floral graphics, and resale values run from $AUD1,300 to $AUD5,2004*. The Nike x KITH partnership includes other exclusive styles that King James wore during several NBA games, including the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.
2Australian Price indication converted from US$10.
3Australian Price indication converted from US$1,550.
4Australian Price indication converted from US$4,000.
*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Nike LeBron 15:
Exclusive Colourways
and Rare Catches
Exclusive Colourways
and Rare Catches
Running shoe enthusiasts and streetwear enthusiasts have plenty of colourful options to choose from–including ever-popular classics like black and white and lots of bold colour. Here are some fan favourites:
- Fruity Pebbles. Inspired by LeBron's favorite breakfast cereal, this eye-catching multi-colour style has also appeared on earlier LeBron sneakers.
- Black Gum. A refined, monochromatic black upper is anchored by a gum outsole.
- Metallic Gold. Monochromatic black is accented with pops of metallic gold on the heel counter's Swoosh and LeBron's personal logo, embroidered on the pull tab.
To showcase the colour capabilities of the Battleknit upper, Nike launched the LeBron Watch series. These colourways were designed to mimic shoes that inspired LeBron's favourite running shoes growing up. The Watch collection was launched on the Nike SNKRS app to coincide with King James' debut on the NBA court and includes dynamic colours like:
Diamond Turf
Brilliant red upper offset by black and white features a strap that mimics Deion Sanders' original Nike training running shoes. Resale values range from $AUD260 to $AUD4105*.
Mowabb
Drawing inspiration from 1991's Air Mowabb, this earth-tone colourway has an average resale value of around $AUD2406*.
Griffey
This model pays homage to one of LeBron James' favourite sports heroes, Ken Griffey Jr. The design elements from the Air Griffey Max 1 are evident in this signature shoe you can find for around $AUD410 to $AUD4557*.
- Orange Box. The vivid tonal orange represents the original Nike boxes, and resale prices range from $AUD492 to $AUD6508* depending on the size.
- Air Max 95 Released in time for Nike Air Max Day 2018, the grey-neon green combo with a mini Swoosh celebrates the classic running shoe. Resale prices range from $AUD338 to $AUD5208*.
- Waffle. This striking blue and gold silhouette pays homage to 1973's original Waffle Trainer.
Other LeBron 15 colourways are reminiscent of earlier LeBron models. South Beach, a teal body with pink laces, was first seen on the Nike LeBron 8 and is arguably the most popular colourway in the LeBron line. A white and black colourway with red accents celebrates LeBron James' first signature running shoe, the Air Zoom Generation.
5Australian Price indication converted from US$315.
6Australian Price indication converted from US$185.
7Australian Price indication converted from US$500.
8Australian Price indication converted from US$350.
9Australian Price indication converted from US$400.
*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Top-Notch Performance Features of the
Nike LeBron 15
Nike LeBron 15
The Nike LeBron 15 is packed with performance-enhancing, energy-returning features including:
- Battleknit upper, an enhanced version of Flyknit, delivers ultra-lightweight flexibility, stretchy support and superior lockdown; it also acts as an excellent canvas for a variety of colours and patterns
- High-stretch collar is designed to hug the ankle for stability
- Midsole combines both Nike Max Air and Zoom Air technologies to provide incredible cushioning
- Lightweight, durable Flywire cables offer excellent support
- Rubber outsole provides secure traction on multiple surfaces
Note on care: Do not put in a washing machine as this may loosen the glue on the seams. Instead, clean gently with water or a mild running shoe cleaner. Treat with a water-repellent spray before use.
