Nike unveiled the new LeBron James "LeBron 12s" at an event Tuesday night. James spoke about his weight loss due to his diet, and what inspired the design of the new shoes. Read more of James' comments at SI.com.
The original of the shoe is... well...
So everytime I look at the green,I witch on how I feel about it. It's got an aquatic, smooth kind of feel to it, and then sometimes it looks like a frog pasted by a mack truck. The gray foam is the big complaint from people, though. It looks like it sticks way too far out. But in wearability, it's reportedly extremely comfortable. And the technology Nike invested in it is significant. From the shoe leviathan:
ACCELERATED EXPLOSIVENESS
Five visible, hexagonally-shaped Nike Zoom Air bags in the outsole of the LEBRON 12 enhance natural motion while providing accelerated explosiveness with each step. Nike Zoom Air delivers the same great cushioning it brought to footwear when first introduced to basketball in 1995; now the hexagonal Nike Zoom Air is mapped to the pressure points of the foot where it’s most needed for basketball performance.
In tandem with the sole, the lightweight and breathable Megafuse upper is designed to act as a molded second skin that minimizes weight and amplifies breathability and comfort.
SUPERIOR SUPPORT
James runs approximately three miles per game, and the average player changes directions about 1,000 times over that distance, requiring supportive, comfortable footwear to withstand tremendous impact and torque. Dynamic Flywire cables provide lockdown support for James’s unrivaled combination of speed and strength. The upper is constructed for a precise fit, with Hyperposite wings that deliver targeted support and protection.
The bottom of it either looks like a game of Simon, a bunch of Starbursts, or Gushers.
I kind of like it, though. Especially when they present it in artwork that makes it seem like you can fly in them through Iron-Man-style repulsor technology.
The LeBron 12 NSLR (for Nike Sports Research Lab) is available October 1st, and is expected to cost $200. Good times.
The colorways, though... they are just nice.
Those are amazing. I'm partial to the "Heart of a Lion" ones out October 30.
The foam sides stick out less with the white contrast and the red mesh with the purple bottom is pretty smooth. The design of the cut is pretty great, too.
Some other sets, coming out over the next few months:
NiceKicks.com has more details on the releases and release dates. Not a bad set, and a more signature shoe than James has had so far.
