What: LeBron X “Extraterrestrial” Basketball Shoe
When: Feb. 15
Where: nike.com
The Scoop: Welcome to NSP-LJ6, aka the planet where LeBron James was created. He's rumored to have journeyed to earth on a meteor made of black diamonds.
Confused? Don't be. It's all a mythical backstory Nike plays up as part of a fictional “Nike Space Program” (NSP), which includes a LeBron X “Extraterrestrial” basketball sneaker.
The special edition LeBron X was created in honor of next week’s NBA All-Star Game in Houston. The shoe’s design is inspired by the mission control center in Texas and its ties to space exploration, hence the outlandish narrative.
The shoe shows off a distinctive purple and red color palette. On the performance end, expect a full-length Nike Zoom unit, which cushions the foot and offers a responsive feel. The midfoot integrates a technology called Flywire, which the brand says provides lightweight, adaptive support and helps lock down the foot. An asymmetrical collar, cut higher on the medial side, provides support; the cut is lower on the lateral side to allow for better flexibility.
