Kicks

Lauri Markkanen Scores Career-High in Nike LeBron 20

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen scored 49 points in LeBron James' newest Nike shoes.

Pat Benson

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Something special is happening in the NBA this season. Individual scoring is through the roof. Almost every night, a player is going for a career-high in points. If this were baseball, we would have to ask if the balls are juiced.

Last night, Lauri Markkanen led the Utah Jazz to victory over the Houston Rockets with a 49-point performance. Our favorite part is that Markkanen did it all in a new pair of LeBron James shoes.

Markkanen is a Nike athlete who has an affinity for wearing James' shoes, and who can blame him? The Nike LeBron 20 has received critical acclaim from hoopers and fans alike.

Despite standing at 7'0", Markkanen is still capable of playing in James' shoes, as that was part of the design process. James' 20th signature sneaker was created with the next generation of players in mind, meaning the low-cut basketball shoe is built perfectly for positionless basketball.

Nike LeBron 20

View of pink and white Nike LeBron shoes.
A detailed look at LeBron James' shoes / © Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The Nike LeBron 20 launched in October 2022 for $200. However, Markkanen wore the 'South Beast' colorway, which was released in limited quantities for $210. The average resale price is now $273, according to StockX.

The 'South Beast' colorway replaced the knit upper with premium pink leather. Additionally, the white pebbled leather Swoosh logo is overlaid with a second Swoosh logo in faux pony hair. 

Unfortunately, most sizes of the 'South Beast' colorway sold out. However, fans can choose between five other colorways of James' newest shoes on the Nike website.

In addition to looking good, the Nike LeBron 20 gets the job done on the court. The low-cut model sits on a lightweight Cushlon midsole, fitted with a large forefoot Zoom Air unit and a bottom-loaded Zoom Air unit in the heel. Even better, the shoe is lighter than its predecessor.

If you have purchased a pair of the Nike LeBron 20, we want to hear from you. Give us your thoughts on Twitter. Stay locked into FanNationKicks.com for all your shoe news.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Kicks On Sports Illustrated. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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