Nike will continue to add to the legacy of the LeBron signature line by unveiling his LeBron 16 model ahead of the 2018 NBA season. Longtime footwear designer Jason Petrie breaks down the design process for the King’s upcoming silhouette.
Evolving from its predecessor, the Nike LeBron 16 introduces an updated Battleknit 2.0 upper with an added layer of yarn, providing increased lateral support for on-court mobility. Petrie said the newly designed knit is “strong enough to contain LeBron and successfully reduces any layers in the overall build that could slow him down.”
Not only has the upper been reinforced, the ankle height has been lowered at the request of James himself. He explained: “I wanted to get a little faster, ride a little bit closer to the court and be a little bit more dynamic.” Sticking with the upper is a new gusseted leather tongue, providing a seamless entry.
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Staying consistent is the Max Air cushioned midsole seen on the Nike LeBron 15 model. “LeBron liked the cushioning so much last year that we just focused on refining it,” Petrie said.
The Nike LeBron 16 will officially debut at Nike.com and select Nike basketball retailers starting with the “Fresh Bred” colorway on Sept. 20 for $185.
The upcoming pair was recently spotted on James; his Instagram page gave a preview of the model.
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