The 30 Best LeBron James Nikes of All Time

Year: 2010

The "Cool Grey" colorway took the title in 2010 as the most sought-after look on a sneaker. Nike threw it on what felt like a hundred models and it never slowed down consumers from grabbing up every pair they could. Before they unleashed the "Cool Grey" Jordan XIs for the holidays, Nike gave its new face a chance to hold it down.

Year: 2008

It was never a secret that Bron-Bron was a big fan of the Yankees — rocking the NY fitted to an Indians game in Cleveland will get you noticed, especially when you're Ohio's favorite son. Nike started fitting LeBron with NY-themed shoes and free agency was quickly approaching. Hmm...and people wonder where all of that talk about LeBron to the Knicks came from.

Year: 2006

The LeBron IV was a tank, clearly a shoe designed for a 260-pound forward who had the moves of a point guard. The Foamposite-reinforced upper was tough; the pre-Free segmented sole was carbon-reinforced stiff. If you weren't LeBron, these were a tough wear. But the Hardwood Classic color scheme (not the Knicks, please) and the limited numbers made these a must-get.

Year: 2011

What started as a LeBron-only PE became a line staple, and neon green and grey became as crucial to LeBron's line as black and red was to MJ's. OK, that might be going a bit too far, but still. And the design of the LeBron 8 carried the colors well.

Year: 2010

All-Star kicks have perhaps become bigger than the weekend itself and it's hard to have one sneaker stand out more than the rest. Nike killed it with LeBron's 2010 digs featuring a bright "Chlorine Blue" colorway and a woodgrain pattern on the rand. These were a "must have" on a lot of people's lists.

Year: 2010

Designed to benefit the Kay Yow foundation as part of the "Think Pink" series, the glaring pink LeBron VIIs made one heck of a bold statement, both on and off the court.

Year: 2010

While his Los Angeles counterpart went all Grinched out, LeBron James took the traditional festive route with his LeBron 8s, doing them up in red and green. And wearing them post-Christmas was no problem, either — swap in some white or black laces, and let the "LeBron to the Bulls" rumors begin.

Year: 2011

Overseas exclusives always complicate things — especially if your goal is to collect the whole set. Furthermore, the "China" LeBron 9s were a particularly fresh colorway, which meant Verizon and Sprint probably made as much off this release as Nike did.

Year: 2008

All-Star makeups have been a sneaker staple for years, and the grey and blue flip of the LeBron V — which did away with much of the gleam of the originals, replacing it with a matte finish in varying textures — made the Ken Link design really stand out.

Year: 2012

You know you've made it when other players are getting PEs of your signature shoes. For Michael Jordan, that didn't happen until he was retired and flailing at curveballs. LeBron's got other guys — and girls — wearing his shoe already. This 9, made up for the WNBA's Diana Taurasi, is right up there with the best of the line.

Year: 2011

The "Christmas" LeBron 9 didn't stray far from the 8's design, but doing away with the black accents was a good idea. And the sparkling sole and green heeltab provided those extra little touches that mean so much.

Year: 2012

Nike has done a great job doing more with less for their athletes after a grueling season, and the 2012 playoff kicks for LeBron might be the best ones yet. The accents on the branding set them off and unlike the previous few seasons they didn't strip too much off the sneaker and make it look like another Hyper-whatever GR. The $250 pricetag is steep, but you get a lot.

Year: 2010

Not just anyone could put their mark on LeBron's game shoe, but DJ Clark Kent isn't just anyone. The longtime Nike collaborator put his neon/elephant/3M twist on the LeBron VII long before 'Bron's kicks showed up on NIKEiD. All BROOKLYN everything.

Year: 2012

If not outshined by the Yeezy IIs, the latest "South Beach" inspired LeBron sneaker might have taken the crown for the most hyped release of 2012. It shut down internet sites in seconds and left people scrambling for a pair or face the wrath of the resellers $600+ price tags.

Year: 2011

Once again, DJ Clark Kent did his magic with the dark elephant, the bright neon and the flashy 3M, converting LeBron's game-day weapons into offcourt shiners. Sure, you could play in 'em, but you'd have to actually get your hands on a pair first.

Year: 2010

You can make the argument of why LeBron should have stayed in Cleveland or left for Miami all day but you can't front on the fact that the Cleveland retro look was one of the illest in the league. The "Hardwood Classic" VIIs were one of Bron's dopest colorways to date — a Wale co-sign at Summer Jam 2011 brought them back into the public eye. Throwback throwbacks.

Year: 2003

Premium leather, lasered logos (on the heel as well as the insole), limited release — Nike did up their most iconic model in grand fashion for their newest superhero. Say what you want about LeBron, he'll never forget where he came from.

Year: 2012

The Employee of the Year and Most Valuable Player got a little more than a plaque and a parking space — Nike celebrated LeBron's third MVP award with black to red faded sneaker with yellow accents. These were rumored to be releasing in limited numbers during the month of June — we didn't forget Nike, lets go.

Year: 2006

Every year without fail, LeBron and Nike pay homage to his alma mater with green and gold versions of his signature kicks. The LeBron III may not have been the easiest shoe to wear off the court, but you didn't have to be an Akron resident to fiend for these SVSM bangers.

Year: 2004

Before they became a staple in his line, the "Dunkman" LeBrons were for 'Bron only. These PE joints featured the now-familiar neon green silhouette on the heel, and replaced the IIs usual ballistic mesh with heavily perforated leather. Mean.

Year: 2012

The "Galaxy" inspired kicks for the 2012 All-Star game might have been one of the best sneaker moves to date for the midseason classic. All of Nike's top players were taken care of with color schemes and glow-in-the-dark features that wreaked havoc among consumers when they dropped. One small step for man, one giant leap for the LeBron 9.

Year: 2011

The hottest sneakers under the sun. *insert Birdman ad-lib* The low-cut Brons might not be everyone's favorite look, but when pictures of the "Solar Reds" first surfaced last summer it was one of the most sought-after 8s other than the "South Beach" styled release in November. If you are a big LeBron fan, you at least had some consolation last summer after they bowed out in Dallas.

Year: 2003

Welp, Nike knows how to kick off a career. For the Chosen One's first NBA game, Nike did up a special version of his first signature shoe, the Nike Dream Team-designed Zoom Generation, complete with the date of the game embroidered into the ankle lining. As if anyone would forget.

Year: 2011

DJ Clark Kent doesn't just come with neon and flash. His "James Dean" take on the LeBron 8 put denim and leather — and an oh-so-crucial gum sole — on the high-tech court wonder, transforming one young star's signature model into a tribute to another who died too soon. Good luck finding a pair.

Year: 2005

The best of the SVSM line, the Zoom LeBron II took the green and gold like it was designed around it, converting the football-style shoe into something you'd expect to see at South Bend. The home version was nice; the road version was legendary.

Year: 2010

It's not always all about the limited this and PE that. For the first color of LeBron James's LeBron 8, Nike kept it simple with black and red (worked for that other guy in Chicago) and added a spatter finish to the white midsole over the red 360 Air bag. Perfection.

Year: 2005

These almost didn't even see the court — Nike sent a player exclusive white and navy pair of LeBron 20-5-5s along just in case for his first All-Star game. The grey uppers looked clean sitting on the blue Visible Zoom and white midsole — the kid was shining.

Year: 2009

Part of an unreleased pack that included tributes to Deion Sanders and Penny Hardaway, these Air Jordan XI inspired LeBron VIIs looked nearly as amazing as their inspiration. The black patent over the white 360 Air and the translucent red outsole — man. The fact that these didn't release is one of the great sneaker tragedies.

Year: 2010

When LeBron said he was "taking my talents to South Beach" it caused a lot of negative emotion in the sports world, but on the sneaker tip we knew we were about to get some greatness from Nike with LeBron transitioning to such a trendy city. The "Pre-Heat" AKA "South Beach" LeBron 8s might be one of the sickest colorways in Nike history. The filament green mixed with the pink laces broke necks quicker than Peyton Manning in a pee-wee football game.

Year: 2004

LeBron James made them famous his freshman year in the NBA, and the Timberland-inspired take on his first signature sneaker still is one of his greatest concept sneakers to date. He would have worn them in his first All-Star Game, instead he had to settle for the Rookie Challenge. Top of the heap.