LeBron James vs. Ja Morant: Who Has The Better Sneakers?

Who won the sneaker battle in Game 4, LeBron James or Ja Morant?

Despite cruising to the 2-seed in the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in deep trouble. Last night, the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers won Game 4 in overtime to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

While NBA players compete on the hardwood, they are also using the opportunity to advertise their latest shoes. Sneakerheads are especially thrilled with the matchup between Memphis and Los Angeles, as two signature Nike athletes are leaving it all on the floor.

Nike Ja 1

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant jumps over Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Ja Morant jumps over LeBron James / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant debuted his first signature shoe - the Nike Ja 1. Morant quickly signed with Nike coming out of Murray State and wore retro models for most of his first four seasons in the league.

When Murray exceeded all expectations, Nike rewarded him with his own signature line. Morant became the first Gen-Z signature athlete on the Nike Basketball roster and has proven to be a powerful draw among the youngest generation of fans.

During last night's game, Morant wore the Nike Ja 1 in the 'Day One' colorway. The shoes were released and quickly sold out on April 19. The silver lining is fans can find the shoes on sneaker resale websites like StockX, GOAT, and eBay.

Nike LeBron NXXT Gen

Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
LeBron James dribbles the ball / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to breaking the league's all-time scoring record, LeBron James has also celebrated two decades with Nike throughout this season. As a result, James has worn a healthy mix of new and retro sneakers that grab headlines after each game.

James has worn his 20th signature model, the Nike LeBron 20, the most this season. However, the newest shoe from James' signature collection, the Nike LeBron NXXT Gen, has been his shoe of choice for the postseason.

During last night's game, James debuted an unreleased colorway in an exciting green, black, and orange colorway that drove fans wild. While we patiently await news on the shoe's release, fans can choose between several options from James' collection on the Nike website.

Los Angeles defeated Memphis, but the winner of the sneaker battle is still yet to be determined. So, we want to hear from our readers. Who had the best kicks in Game 4, James or Morant?

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Published
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.