by Sandy Dover for BMF (Complex Media)
You can never go wrong with black, steel gray, and hot pink, especially on the Nike LeBron 11.
You just can’t.
‘Nuff said. …
Tag Archives: LeBron James
BRIEF: Nike to release KD VI Precision Timing
by Sandy Dover for BMF of Complex Media
Kevin Durant is probably the first Nike Basketball athlete where the stories behind his shoes were more intricately marketed and more fully conveyed to the masses, even more so than LeBron James. Prior to him, much of the background behind various shoes by Nike were abbreviated, truncated, and sometimes just a matter of hearsay and rumor (particularly in the heyday of the Air Jordan years). Luckily for us all, Durant is eager to share what inspires him and what’s touched him, and even more luckily for us, Nike has made good on enriching his footwear with anecdotes that actually bring something meaningful to his shoes, this time, in the Nike KD VI Precision Timing. …
BRIEF: Nike to release LeBron 11 Akron vs. Miami
by Sandy Dover for BMF for Complex Media
Just in case you forgot, LeBron Ramone James is from Akron, OH.
Not Cleveland. AKRON.
And he’s making that clear and well-known with his latest shoe, the Nike LeBron 11 Akron vs. Miami, which is to hit the streets on Saturday, December 6.
It’s an interesting shoe, because unless you understand what colors are supposed to signify, it’s a fairly innocuous and ambiguous shoe, though still very attractive.
Apparently, the shoe’s blueish hue is to represent the blue-collar spirit of Akron, known for his factory heyday years and years ago; the pink trim, on the other hand, is a nod to Miami (another ambiguous, but understandable color choice). The palm green outsole seems to silently take the position of setting a Miami atmosphere with the palm trees that are present in the city. …
PREMIERE: BUCKETS Magazine – The Official 2013-2014 NBA Season Guide
With guest contributions by Sandy Dover
BUCKETS official statement:
With the new NBA season just a week away, BUCKETS kindly invites you to
check out our exclusive 60-page 2013-14 Season Guide. It’s free for
all to view online here:http://issuu.com/bucketsmagazine/docs/seasonguide201314
We’ve also attached our tabloid (New York Post) inspired front page.
Enjoy. Feel free to share. Hope you like our Season Guide as much as
we’ve enjoyed producing it.
FEATURE: Nike LeBron 11 Forges On With “Iron” Colorway
by Sandy Dover for Sneaker Report
The many stories of LeBron James’ life and career are often telling and poignant, if not at least insightful about why he is who and what he is. He’s a champion who has been world-tested since his teenage years, accumulating years of life experience along the way and becoming a stronger player in the process. What better way to describe James than being as strong as iron? Nike has taken that insight of James and made it come to life in the LeBron 11 signature shoe. …
FEATURE: Nike Debuts Landmark Performance Technologies in 11th LeBron James Shoe
By Sandy Dover
As featured by Yahoo!
The LeBron James Nike signature shoe series is one of the very best lines of shoes in the history of the footwear industry. In technology, the LeBron line has always been a leader in displaying innovative combinations of footwear sport enhancement, and in looks, the LeBrons have continue to show out with exciting design that changes and catches the masses off-guard, often while dictating the change in styles in the industry. The LeBron 11 isn’t much different, as far as maintaining a lead in both tech and aesthetics.
After having celebrated two NBA titles and two of the best shoes in the LeBron series, James will be playing his Nike LeBron 11 – fully visible in distinct detail here — which is essentially ushering in a new era of footwear in regards to protection. …
RELEASE & PHOTO GALLERY: Nike LeBron 11
Release and photos courtesy of Nike:
The number 11 represents new beginnings and is a step beyond a celebrated tenure. Starting his 11th year in the league, with two gold medals, two championship rings and four MVP trophies, LeBron James continues to succeed by constantly improving his game.
Designed to provide a protective suit for James’s unique style of play, the LEBRON 11 encompasses the duality of powerful precision. It is James’s lightest signature shoe to-date, while offering the protective feel, responsiveness and containment his game requires.
“LOCK ME DOWN SO I CAN FLY”
James has consistently fed back to his shoe designers that he wants to feel locked down, as if the shoes are an extension of his feet, for the 1,000+ directional changes he makes per game. Nike Basketball designers aim to build on the strengths of his game and provide protection for his powerful force without hindering his intricate precision on the court.
Built from the inside out, the LEBRON 11 is the lightest and lowest LeBron signature shoe ever. It weighs approximately 14.5 oz in a men’s size 9.
The upper is built in a new way, featuring revolutionary Nike Hyperposite technology for lightweight lock-down, while taking protection, containment and responsiveness to a new level. The upper incorporates Nike Hyperfuse construction and dynamic Flywire technology to bring natural motion to James’s game.
The LEBRON 11 is deconstructed to get James’s foot much lower to the ground so he can feel the court, while enhancing cushioning via the full length Lunarlon and Nike Zoom unit – a combination featured for the first time in a LeBron signature shoe.
The LEBRON 11 features key performance innovations and benefits including:
- New Nike Hyperposite technology: Uses lightweight materials designed to move with the foot to provide protection, containment and responsiveness.
- Nike Hyperfuse construction and Dynamic Flywire technology: Provides a dynamic fit and excellent lockdown, bringing natural motion to the court.
- A combination of Lunarlon and Nike Zoom units: For soft, springy responsiveness.
DESIGN DUALITY
The duality of the number 11 is the main graphic design inspiration for the LEBRON 11 – it looks identical upside down as it does right side up. The graphic design on the LEBRON 11 also plays into the duality of the shoe and features ambigrams throughout including:
- The graphic on the inner tongue of the shoe spells out the number six while further highlighting the Roman numeral XI.
- The sock liner graphic reads “LeBron” but when flipped upside down reads “James”.
- A closer look at the Swoosh on the shoe reveals a pattern inspired by modern chain mail in which the initials “LJ” make up the links and repeat at graduating weights.
THE STORY OF DUALITY:
Nike Basketball designers successfully channel the duality of James’s play and persona to tell the story via various LEBRON 11 colorways.
LEBRON 11 KING’S PRIDE colorway
James plays with fearlessness, determination and the heart of a lion. The King’s Pride colorway draws inspiration from the lion – its dark loden upper color and the floral print on the collar lining reflect the pride of the wildlife.
LEBRON 11 TERRACOTTA WARRIOR colorway
James was impressed by the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition, which he visited when he was in Xi’An, China, in 2011. The exhibit, plus James’s playing style – which reflects a warrior’s spirit of grit, confidence, hard work and determination – inspired the Terracotta Warrior colorway.
The design of the shoe is inspired by the Terracotta Warriors as we see them today — in neutral stone colors along with pop colors of purple/teal/red to represent how they were originally painted. The graphic texture on the upper articulates the linked, plated armor that the warriors wore. The special lining shank design graphic is drawn from the style of Bronze Age art, the era in which the Terracotta Warriors were made.
The LEBRON 11 King’s Pride will be available on Oct. 12 globally. The LEBRON 11 Terracotta Warrior will be available on Oct. 1 in Greater China, and on Nov. 27 in North America and the rest of the world.
FEATURE: TSL’s 5-On-5 – Does Dwyane Wade Need To Ride The Bench Until The Playoffs?
featuring Sandy Dover for The Shadow League
Unless Wade is totally bad with his health, he’ll need some action to keep away rust and not make LeBron vulnerable with his energy output. The problem with Wade in general is that his body isn’t equipped to handle the full 82, so he probably needs to start getting the San Antonio treatment for the rest of his career. No heavy back-to-backs and some occasional games off. Of course, because Pat Riley is hardheaded, this isn’t likely to be.
…
FEATURE: TSL’s 5-On-5 – Miami Heat Ridin’ Or Dyin’ With The Streak
featuring Sandy Dover for The Shadow League
The streak in and of itself isn’t the end goal, and no one plans for a streak – only to win as many games as possible. The only time a superstar should play through injury is when they are counted on to either make the playoffs, or to stay in the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs are a team that routinely rests its players as necessary, so that they can play healthy when the stakes are the highest. No trophies are given to streaks.
…
FEATURE: Long Live the King? (The Past and Present Destiny of the Brooklyn Nets)
by Sandy Dover for Yahoo!
The team has floundered and undergone some very painful moments with Avery Johnson being fired as coach after the Christmas Day 2012 game, Kris Humphries being removed from the rotation by current coach P.J. Carlesimo. Former NBA All-Star guard Joe Johnson is now on the team, as is former All-Star forward Gerald Wallace, and 2013 All-Star center Brook Lopez has broken out and become the most important player on the team.
Now, the Nets have to contend with the fact that they must improve enough to win a championship, necessitating that they conquer LeBron James and the Miami Heat (and perhaps the New York Knicks), but it will prove difficult. No matter how many co-signs the Nets get from minority owner Jay-Z, or how much money that majority owner Mike Prokorov throws around, the Nets’ path is clear.
And Nets general manager Billy King somehow has to make it alright.
…
SNDVR 