1. Introduction

The Nike LeBron 21, released in September 2024, is the latest iteration of LeBron James’ signature line, blending advanced performance features with a design inspired by his daughter, Zhuri

The Nike LeBron 21 is the 21st signature shoe for LeBron James. Once again designed by long-time Nike LeBron designer Jason Petrie, the LeBron 21 features a lower-cut, streamlined design and is said to be inspired by the properties of an oyster shell. More abstractly, the construction of the shoe is said to take cues from his relationship with his daughter Zhuri, containing the motif of the Bronny inspired LeBron 20. The cushioning package consists of a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot, a bottom-loaded, 13-millimeter Zoom unit in the heel, and a full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier.

2. Key Features

• Cushioning

Equipped with a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot and a bottom-loaded, 13-millimeter Zoom unit in the heel, the LeBron 21 offers responsive propulsion and impact protection. A full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier enhances comfort with a pillowy feel.

The LeBron XXI is built for basketball’s next generation. LeBron didn’t need to look very far to find his muse for the shoe: his 8-year-old daughter, Zhuri. Inspired by the notion of protection for the modern player, the shoe’s upper is inspired by an oyster shell, protecting the pearl inside.

Using lightweight materials, the upper’s venting is striated to look like the veining of a shell, helping contain the player during explosive movements. That containment is visualized by a lightweight mono-mesh reinforced by 360 degrees of zonal cables around the midfoot, helping support and secure the player over the footbed. Perforations on the medial Swoosh provide enhanced breathability. Underfoot, the shoe features a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot and a bottom-loaded, 13-millimeter Zoom unit to support propulsion. A full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier for a pillowy feel and a TPU midfoot shank provides stability and extra pop for dynamic movements.

“As we took our next steps from the LeBron XX, we were inspired by the way LeBron maintains his body and his game during the offseason,” says Jason Petrie, Lead Designer for the LeBron XXI. “His trainer says it’s like taking care of an F1 car. You tweak the car between each race. You don’t need to rebuild the car completely. We wanted to retain some of the elements we know he loved, like the Zoom Turbo unit, but refine some of the finishes in the upper.”

The shoe features other qualities inspired by an oyster shell. Exposed construction on the foxing gives a shell-like appearance The perforated foam tongue is quilted, also imitating a shell’s appearance and providing a plush feel.

The LeBron XXI, available in full family sizing, releases globally beginning September 28.

• Upper Design

Drawing inspiration from oyster shells, the upper features lightweight materials with shell-like veining patterns, providing foot containment during explosive movements. Reinforced with 360-degree zonal cables, it ensures a secure fit.

Nike has unveiled the LeBron 21, the latest installment of the performance footwear collection, built with the next generation of basketball players in mind. Inspired by daughter Zhuri, the shoe features a range of details that aim to support the player throughout the demands of the game.

“As we took our next steps from the LeBron XX, we were inspired by the way LeBron maintains his body and his game during the offseason,” Jason Petrie, Lead Designer for the LeBron 21, said in a press release announcing the shoe launch. “His trainer says it’s like taking care of an F1 car. You tweak the car between each race. You don’t need to rebuild the car completely. We wanted to retain some of the elements we know he loved, like the Zoom Turbo unit, but refine some of the finishes in the upper.”

Inspired by an oyster shell that protects the pearl it houses, the LeBron 21 has upper venting, informed by a shell’s veining, which aims to help contain the athlete’s foot during explosive movements. Reinforced by 360 degrees of zonal cables over the footbed, the shoes make sure players’ feet remain secure as games heat up. Meanwhile, underfoot, a forefoot Zoom Turbo unit and bottom 13-millimeter Zoom unit encourage propulsion. A TPU midfoot shank provides stability and extra umph for dynamic movements. For comfort, a full-length Cushion 2.0 foam carrier offers a pillowy feel.

Just in time for basketball season, the LeBron 21 will be available globally starting September 28 in full family sizing.

• Support

A TPU midfoot shank enhances stability, while a substantial heel counter wrapped in Nike Sphere technology offers additional support.

The Nike LeBron 20 was one of the best basketball shoes of 2023-24 and one of the best LeBron James shoes ever. Turns out that the Nike LeBron 21 is also one of the best shoes of 2024, one of the best basketball shoes in terms of traction, the best shoes for small forwards, one of the best shoes for volleyball overall as well as one of the best basketball shoes for volleyball and one of the most comfortable as well. The fact of the matter is that both shoes are basically the same, which, in this particular case, is a good thing. The lack of innovation can be forgiven when we are talking about such a high-octane performance model.

There are, however, some changes that won’t affect performance per se, but they might affect the all-around experience on court which we’ll go over in this article.

Once on-court performance is out of the way, the big question is if you appreciate these aesthetically. Look good play good and all that. And here we do see some major changes when comparing them to last year’s model, so let’s dive in and see exactly what is different in the LeBron 21.

This is the aspect of the shoe that has suffered the most if we compare it to last year’s model. Perhaps in an effort to cut costs, Nike decided to switch out the carbon fiber shank plate for a TPU shank plate. The leather they have used on the upper isn’t cheap and Nike’s design team most likely had to sacrifice the carbon fiber to build the upper the way they wanted.

By no means does this mean that support and containment will be bad on the LeBron 21, it’s just interesting to see. The shoe is equipped with a very wide base, a stable cushioning system, a substantial heel counter wrapped in Nike Sphere, that ultra-supportive upper, and then we have that TPU shank. This will be more than enough for the immense majority of players out there.

• Fit and Comfort

The shoe fits true to size, with a plush, quilted tongue and a thick insole contributing to overall comfort. However, some users report a significant break-in period due to the shoe’s supportive structure.

The Nike LeBron 21 fits true to size and offers a very similar fit to the Nike LeBron 20, so if you played in that shoe you know what to expect. If you didn’t, go with whatever size you typically use for Nike basketball, and you’ll be getting a great 1 to 1 fit, which is exactly what you want in terms of performance.

The best parts of those uppers are still exactly the same. which is nice for any of you that were concerned about that. But when i went in and looked at the bottom layer of the lebron 21 underneath of that nubuck under there, put under the microscope. I mean, it is a really intricate TPU weaving under there. And I mean, you can see it like it molds and flows pretty well with the foot, right? I mean, like I said, once again, it is a very buttery feeling upper. That’s what I loved about them. The comfort I thought was really good.

LeBron shoes create a lot of hype in general, but the 21 is absolutely worth the energy. With Zoom Turbo in the forefoot, a shank in the midfoot, and Zoom Air in the heel, its cushioning system is spot on! We experienced a great mix of bounce and shock absorption, so playing in these hoopers was great fun. Despite being ready to jump, the 21 didn’t feel unstable or wobbly, as its substantial structure made us surefooted in every single one of our game tests. Its high-quality materials definitely also made it a quite durable pair and helped us prevent ankle injuries. Just keep in mind that your feet will suffer throughout the long and harsh break-in period these LeBrons need. The shoe’s skyrocketed price might hurt your wallet too, but it’s definitely worth every penny!

So I don’t post on reddit much at all, but have used these pages from time to time to get real world reviews. I’m 38 and am getting back into playing ball after 17 years away from the game. I needed new shoes and when I started looking I quickly became overwhelmed. The bball shoe scene is quite different from 20 years ago. I settled on some inexpensive Nike Impact 4’s which felt like shoes I was accustomed to and played with them for a couple months. Fast forward to October and I got the itch for different shoes. I figured there has to be more cushion.. more comfort… just all around better tech compared to 20 years ago. My searches kept landing on positives about the LeBron 21’s and I ordered them.. the most expensive shoes I have ever bought. Well, long story short on those, they felt incredibly unstable, caused extremity pain within minutes, and bad enough to the point I was glad I had my other shoes in the truck to change in to. I was blown away by how bad they felt. Of course we are all different in build and such, but I never had a shoe I couldn’t make work, even cheap shoes. I guess I expected to be blown away by something that was so often cited as one of the shoes to get in 2024. And LeBron is old too so surely they would work.

So, what is there out there for an “old” dude? Not sure if it matters for the suggestion but I’m 6’2, 220 and play the 4 position in my league. Maybe the Impact 4’s are the way but surely there has to be something better. I have seen some stuff on the Nike GT jump 2’s in regards to good cushioning. But I’m not married to any brand and it seems Nike has dropped some coin making sure their shoes show up in every single search.

Side note: if you’re young and love the game, don’t stop playing. It was like learning how to play all over again this year. But I’m glad I’m back in it. It is weird being called pops are unc on the court though.. doesn’t feel like that long ago I was the young guy out there.

3. Pros

• Wonderful performance overall
• Amazing cushioning technologies
• Nice bounce and shock absorption
• High-quality materials
• Great stability and supportive design
• Good twist resistance
• Effective grip
• Eye-catching style

4. Cons

• Not breathable
• Rough and long break-in period
• Pricey

For more details https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v47Ctv4idDw