Breaking Down The LeBron 16

He is now entering Season 16.

After 15 years at the top of the NBA, LeBron James’s athletic ability, relentless work ethic and maturity has set him apart among modern athletes. This mix befuddles opponents, and for Nike designer Jason Petrie, James’s longtime collaborator, it creates a series of evolving challenges, not least of which is the four-time MVP’s constant need for balancing support and weight in his shoe.

Petrie and the basketball footwear team at Nike know that each iteration of the LeBron line calls for fresh tools. With the new LeBron 16, the breakthrough tool is knit.

The shoe introduces Battleknit 2.0, an evolved version of the scalloped knit featured on the Lebron 15. Its structure increases tensile strength (important to contain James’s lateral force on court) and it has an elegant finish matching James’s current style.

The LeBron 16’s other notable feature is its height. At the direction of James, Petrie formed the shoe with a lower collar, which allows the athlete to move more freely.

“The first thing we wanted to do was get a little lower in the cut of the shoe,” says James. “I wanted to get a little faster, ride a little bit closer to the court and be a little bit more dynamic.”

Underfoot, a simple evolution of the Max Air cushioning platform introduced in the LeBron 15 supports James’s dynamic desires. “LeBron liked the cushioning so much last year that we just focused on refining it,” says Petrie. “For this addition, we removed the tendril that connected the forefoot to the under-toe bag, and instead included an outrigger to create some additional support to complement the lower height.”

The LeBron 16 'Fresh Bred' colorway will be available starting September 29 at select Nike oulets for 9,895 PHP.

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