The Biggest Upsets in the Nike SNKRS LeBron Voting

Imagine you could dig into the vast catalog of unreleased Nike LeBron sneakers and pick out any one to have. You could flip through every player exclusive, every rare pair that went for thousands of dollars on the secondary market, and make one your own. What would you pick? Nike asked that question this week on SNKRS but, as with most things relating to that app, it came with some caveats. The brand set up a Nike LeBron bracket that pitted 16 unreleased LeBron James sneakers against each other, letting users vote in a contest that will ultimately result in a never-before-released shoe getting a first retail release. But you couldn't pick just any sneakers, you had to go with the ones Nike whittled it down to. Which meant some omissions and odd choices—none of the "Gloria" colorways paying tribute to James' mother were present, the coveted "Fruity Pebbles" LeBron 4 wasn't there, and the "LeBronald Palmer" was absent.

We are not here to gripe about the choices, though. We are here to gripe about the surprising results from the first round of voting. This isn't about gatekeeping. Hopefully, at the end of it all, some small number of people will be able to buy a shoe they've always wanted, and that's a good thing. But it's still hard to look at the shoes advancing and wonder about peoples' priorities. Historically important pairs have already been flushed from contention. Grails that felt like a lock to advance have been eliminated. According to SNKRS, over 500,000 people weighed in on each round. Their desires reveal that the audience there doesn't revere the same shoes that sneaker media has touted as the best LeBrons. Are we so out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong. In a maybe futile attempt to make our case for some of the losing shoes and explain their worth, we've gathered here the biggest upsets from the first round of the Nike LeBron vote back program.

Winner: Nike LeBron 9 'Gold King's Throne' PE

Runner-up: Nike LeBron 6 "Cartoon" PE

From the "Fruity Pebbles" LeBron 4 to the "Swackhammer" LeBron 17, James' long-running signature line has always had its share of fun, playful colorways. One of the standout examples happened early on with 2009's Family Guy-inspired "Cartoon" (better known as "Stewie Griffin") LeBron 6. With edges shaded to look animated and colors lifted from the diabolic toddler's outfit, the pair was a spot-on yet unofficial homage to one of James' favorite TV shows. What makes this sneaker even more significant is that it's the most coveted colorway on a rather unremarkable LeBron model. Sure, the "Big Apple" and "Taxi" styles were decent, but releasing this "Stewie" pair could have taken the LeBron 6 from underwhelming to unforgettable. Instead, we're getting a version of the "Watch the Throne" LeBron 9 that nobody really asked for—not the black-based version that most people picture when they think of the Jay-Z x Kanye West crossover, but instead a more obscure gold iteration. This could have been a moment to bring back a LeBron sneaker fans have wanted for years, not a consolation prize. — Riley Jones

Winner: Nike LeBron 3 'Glow' PE

Runner-up: Nike LeBron 15 "South Beach" PE

A player exclusive of an early model from LeBron James' Nike line beating out a newer model might not be considered an upset in the context of this list, but these specific examples pose a few exceptions. The Nike LeBron 15 was viewed favorably by collectors both new and old, and while it wasn't the most hyped model in the line, the LeBron Watch makeups, which heed back to moments from both his and Nike's archives, were particularly popular. Additionally, the "Glow" LeBron 3 look already returned in the form of the LeBron 16, where it was met with indifference from buyers before ending up on deep discounts—its current resale value is roughly $100 under retail. And while it is an early model from the line, it didn't actually surface until 2014, when James shared the pair on social media. That lack of meaningful history, combined with the power of the South Beach colorway in general, is why we didn't see this result coming. — Zac Dubasik

Winner: Nike LeBron 11 'Fairfax' PE

Runner-up: Nike LeBron 7 "HWC" PE

Does anybody remember how little LeBron James actually wore the Nike LeBron 11? He was so reluctant to use the shoe in NBA games that Nike had to go back and rework the fit just to make it more wearable. We get that the "Fairfax" version is flashy, but there are better contenders for this silhouette in the same vein. Even the "Ring Night" player exclusive that James opened up the 2013-14 NBA season wearing would be a fine contender. It's especially difficult to understand why people are captivated by this colorway on this model—neither of which made much impact—considering the stiff competition here. The Nike LeBron 7, by contrast, is one of the best Nike LeBron models out there. It helped revitalize the line, offering a smooth and striking model in contrast to the chunky basketball boots he'd been hooping in before it dropped. The "Hardwood Classics" player exclusive, featuring different colors on the left and right shoes, was one of the model's best colorways. It let the clean patent leather sections shine and gave Knicks fans a bit of false hope that King James would abdicate his Cleveland throne and make the move to New York. Now with the votes locked by a landslide, much like James in a Knicks jersey, this pair as a retro is just not happening. — Brendan Dunne

Winner: Nike LeBron 8 V2 '1.8.2011'

Runner-up: Nike Air Zoom Generation "Purple Suede" PE

Even though this particular Air Zoom Generation was actually debuted by LeBron in the tunnel during the 2018 Finals while he was still a Cleveland Cavalier, the purple suede execution is a perfect nod to his current home in Los Angeles. Nike did give LeBron's first signature shoe a formidable retro run throughout 2017 and 2018, but the purple suede AZG was the retro that we all needed. We could have gotten it too, if it wasn't for those meddling kids. Instead, a LeBron 8 V2 PE will be advancing to the next round. LeBron laced it up during a 2011 game in Portland and tallied 44 points to lead the Miami Heat to victory. Sure, he played a great game, but did we really need another black and red LeBron sneaker? The Air Zoom Generation and LeBron 8 are both undoubtedly two of the best sneakers from LeBron's 18 year old signature line, but seeing the purple suede AZG get outvoted by such a wide margin in favor of a simplistic 8 V2 (not even the more lifestyle friendly 8 V1) is a bit of a head-scratcher. As a big LeBron fan who has been quietly begging Nike to release the purple AZG, this reality hurt. If you're reading this, Nike, it's not too late. Do the right thing. Even if it lost, we deserve this one. — Mike DeStefano

Winner: Nike LeBron 9 'What The' PE

Runner-up: Nike LeBron 7 "Shooting Stars" PE

The LeBron 9 is an important sneaker. Let's get that out of the way. There have been plenty of colorways—both released and unreleased, high-top and low-top—that really matter. The "South Beach," "Cannon," "Watch the Throne," "LeBronald Palmer," and the list goes on. One of the shoes that never got released was a "What the" LeBron 9. "What The" sneakers can be hit or miss. Some are good, some aren't. The LeBron 9 really exists in that inbetween ground. It's not awful, it's not great. The "Shooting Stars" LeBron 7, on the other hand, is a great sneaker that never came out. Made for the King James Shooting Stars Classic, LeBron James's AAU tournament, the sneaker got a Diamond Turf-esque makeover that we'd later see on the LeBron 15. It looks great on the 7, though, with its patent leather toe, black upper, and red Air Max unit. The LeBron 9 is a bit more nostalgic and recent to a slightly younger audience, so I understand why it might outrank a LeBron 7, which was the first shoe in the reboot of the LeBron line in the 2010s. But I don't agree with it. — Matt Welty