The best and worst of LeBron James' signature sneakers

When he entered the NBA with more hype than any rookie in league history, LeBron James also had the NBA's biggest rookie sneaker deal in hand. Before he was even drafted, he signed a seven-year, $90 million deal that guaranteed him a signature shoe every season of his career.Get more news about Best basketball sneaker,you can vist nbaboss.us!
Now, 15 years later, James' Nike series is the longest consecutive sneaker line for an active player in NBA history, with a full portfolio of products that nets nearly $400 million annually for the brand. Along the way, his sneakers have presented more of a challenge for Nike's designers.

He's a very unique problem to have out there. He's very fast and very powerful," designer Jason Petrie said. "When we're building a LeBron, we know all of that going in."

In advance of the launch of the upcoming LeBron 16, which will feature a host of new storytelling with the four-time MVP's move to Los Angeles, we ranked the main signature line from throughout James' storied career.While the design can be generously described as "polarizing," the clover-like heel shape and overly molded Hyperposite upper materials never quite crossed over from hardwood to lifestyle. The gaudy player exclusive colorways didn't seem to generate much interest, either. Worn during James' second season of his second Cleveland tenure, the shoe featured more hometown detailing than any other shoe, with nods to his 330 Akron area code and 12/84 birthdate and a simple "Akronite" declaration along the outsole.

Nike's Foamposite material has long been linked to some of the brand's most iconic and innovative silhouettes. As Nike embarked on the double-digit years of LeBron's line, his sneakers started to become overbuilt, perhaps more than any average consumer cared for. By the release of the 12, even James' four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and his standing atop the league couldn't overcome the $200 price point and clunky out-of-the-box feel.

It didn't help that the LeBron 12 had been in the works for a year prior to his return to Cleveland, which made for several nods and subtle touches of his Heat jersey No. 6 still remaining, such as the six Zoom Air units along the bottom, the number call out on the shank and a hexagonal icon on the tongue.At two points in James' Nike series, the design team scrapped an existing look midway through the process, scrambling to create a new concept in time for the season. Unfortunately for the LeBron 14, the shift caused a massive delay, with James not debuting the shoe until Christmas and not releasing it until January. The lack of visibility on court hampered the excitement around the model, and the simplified design didn't connect with consumers.