LeBron James and Nike have spent the better part of the last two decades crafting one of the most successful signature line-ups of all-time. And following many a legendary model and colorway comes the aptly-named LeBron 20, which simultaneously commemorates the athlete’s 20th year with Nike and his 20th year with the NBA.

Making history as the very first among the collection to be introduced as a low-top, the LeBron 20 is a tangible homage to James’ illustrious career. But despite its nods to the past — which are rife throughout not only the colorway but also the design’s very structure — the Lakers Forward affirms that the shoe was made with the next generation of players in mind.

Alongside a carbon fiber midfoot shank, the LeBron 20 is packed with Zoom Air all throughout its lower profile. The forefoot, for starters, is cushioned with a top-loaded Air Zoom Turbo unit, while the heel opts for a much larger, 13mm thick Zoom Air Unit that improves overall impact protection. The synthetic-wrapped lateral guardrail, then, ensures the foot is kept in place as the multidirectional outsole pattern grips the court during play.

“We saw the XX as a chance to celebrate the next 20 years for LeBron,” said Jason Petrie, lead designer of the LeBron line since the Zoom LeBron VII. “The stitched tag inside the tongue says, ‘Designed and Engineered to the Exact Specifications of the Next Generation.’ We took that line seriously as we designed the shoe. We had players like LeBron’s sons Bronny and Bryce in mind. We wanted to get in their heads and learn about what young players were looking for.”

The LeBron 20’s nods to its creator’s career — such as the intricate designs on the above-mentioned guardrail — are not only visual in form, as it’s very engineering also honors the past. For example, the collar is built with Nike Sphere, a soft and breathable technology that originally outfitted the Air Zoom Generation from 2003. In addition, the carbon fiber midfoot shank and the Dunkman logo have been brought back for the first time since the Zoom LeBron 5 and LeBron 16, respectively.

Arriving in adults and kids sizes, the Nike LeBron 20 is set to debut on September 29th in its “Time Machine” colorway. Additional releases are to follow throughout the Holiday 2022 season.

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

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