Imagining The Nike LeBron Prelude Pack

All illustrations by Dead Dilly

When royalty is introduced, you bow down. LeBron's debut as a professional basketball player started a new wave in the NBA. The history books will always have room for a King. Inspired by LeBron's burst onto the scene, the LeBron Prelude I "Royalty Arrives"​ has paint that chips off the more you wear the sneaker and eventually is replaced by a blossoming layer deep beneath it.

LeBron was not introduced to the sophomore slump. The young Cavalier helped erase all of the hype by becoming the youngest player to record a triple double and be named to the All-NBA Team. The LeBron Prelude II pays homage to The King, the lone bright spot on a below-average team.

LeBron finally harnessed his raw talents and combined them with an unseen basketball IQ in his third season. In doing so, he captured his first NBA All-Star MVP award in front of a Houston crowd. The 21-year-old star also made his playoff debut where he posted two game winners in the first round. The LeBron Prelude III represents the start of total domination.

The 2007 season ended abruptly thanks to the savvy San Antonio Spurs. Being swept in four games in the NBA Finals humbled LeBron James and his inexperienced team. To convey the dynamics of a rollercoaster season, the LeBron IV boasts two contrasting panels: a black reptile-inspired upper, and an off-white Foamposite base.

A black upper coupled with a gold toebox helps symbolize LeBron's vital role on the 2008 USA National Basketball Team. Helping his country win a gold medal bolstered the King's resume and put him in company with the all-time greats.

No one stalks its prey better than the King of the Jungle. LeBron captured his first league MVP award while making the chase-down block his signature. Helping illustrate the beast in Cleveland's son, the LeBron Prelude VI features a premium animal print and bold Nike Swoosh.

LeBron's departure from his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers marked one of the darkest moments in his career. The King was sent off to South Beach with burning jerseys and heartbroken fans. To capture the pain of an entire state, the LeBron Prelude VII is draped with a dark composition, flame-inspired patent leather, and an LED Swoosh.

LeBron's first season as a member of the Miami Heat did not end as he expected. The King's team failed to trump the party crashing Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Carbon Fiber, suede, and bleached flames make up the LeBron Prelude VIII. To erase the memories of being the villain of the NBA, the strong chemical is used as inspiration to express LeBron moving forward from one of the most disappointing years in his career. 

Another NBA MVP award. Check. NBA Champion. Check. Finals MVP. check. Olympic Gold. Check. Self-reflection helped bring a new attitude to the table following one of LeBron's lowest career moments. To illustrate one of LeBron's most dominant, machine-like seasons, the LeBron Prelude IX features battery-powered midsole and Swoosh.

LeBron cemented himself as an all-time great after receiving his fourth NBA MVP trophy and second straight Final MVP honor. The King got in his zone and never left it. To commemorate the entire world being forced to watch the throne, the LeBron Prelude X is draped in a gold colorway that symbolizes continued success and a crown that only royalty can wear.

Discomfort and indecisiveness weighed on LeBron's mind while he pursued a third straight championship. After struggling to decide on what shoe to wear on a nightly basis, LeBron was faced with another decision at the end of the season. A combination of the Nike LeBron XI and Zoom Soldier 7 makes up the contours of the LeBron Prelude XI, and illustrates the nuisances and the stress faced during his final days in South Beach.