LeBron James Names His Best Nike Sneakers

The Nike LeBron 8 'South Beach' is LeBron James' favorite sneaker of all time.

As he prepares for his 21st professional season, there is nothing left for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James to prove to the sports world. Not only has James dominated basketball for over two decades, but he has also conquered the sneaker industry.

Shortly after high school, James signed a historic sneaker deal with Nike in 2003. Since then, James has worn one of his own signature models on the court for all 1,421 games of his career (not counting preseason and postseason games). With 21 signature sneakers released, fans want to know which is James' favorite hoop shoe.

Thanks to a video posted to Nike Basketball's Instagram account, sneakerheads have received a resounding answer from James. In what was called a "blind ranking," James rattled off a list of what he considered his top five sneakers.

At the end of the video, James called the Nike LeBron 8 'South Beach' his favorite sneaker. James said, "It's the best shoe in my line. For sure. That crushed the shoe game right there. The 'South Beach' 8s, that's insane."

As he entered his prime, James took his talents and signature sneaker line to South Beach. Before ever suiting up with the Miami Heat, James made a huge splash within the sneaker culture when he debuted a new model in an iconic colorway.

Nike LeBron 8 'South Beach'

A detailed look at the Nike LeBron 8 'South Beach.' / Nike

The Nike LeBron 8 'South Beach' (or 'Pre-Heat') was launched in limited quantities for $160 on October 16, 2010. The upper featured a smooth Filament Green leather and carbon fiber. Meanwhile, Pink Flash appeared on the laces and inner lining. Only three colors were needed to tell a story that everyone understood just by looking at the shoe - a new era of the NBA had arrived in Miami.

It would take over a decade for the iconic hoop shoe to enjoy a retro release but can be found above the retail price on sneaker resale websites like eBay, GOAT, StockX, and KICKS CREW. Luckily for frugal fans, they can find plenty of James' new and retro sneakers on the Nike website.

Although James is in the twilight of his NBA career, his signature sneaker line shows no signs of slowing down. With a new season starting up, fans can expect James to make more history on the hardwood and in the sneaker industry. Stay tuned to FanNationKicks.com for your daily footwear news.

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