Kicks

Travis Kelce Wears LeBron Sneakers in Failed First Pitch

Travis Kelce wore LeBron James' shoes at a Cleveland Guardians game.

Pat Benson

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Everyone wants a homecoming. Perhaps no one is more deserving than Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The Cleveland Guardians honored their hometown hero with a warm reception and ceremonial first pitch before Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Kelce, a fashion icon in his own right, dressed perfectly for the occasion. The 2x Super Bowl champion wore a Guardians hat and jersey, a shirt declaring his Cleveland heritage, and a pair of LeBron James' retro Nike sneakers. 

Unfortunately, Kelce's pitch did not go as planned. The perennial Pro Bowler spiked the baseball as he had done with footballs his entire life. Kelce laughed it off, and the internet quickly joined the fun.

However, at FanNation Kicks, our focus is always on athletes' footwear. Kelce is one of the biggest sneakerheads in the NFL, and he did not disappoint with the old-school hoop shoes he chose for Friday night. Below is what fans must know about the kicks.

Nike Air Zoom Generation

Side view of white and red Nike LeBron shoes.
LeBron James' retro shoes / Nike

Kelce wore the Nike Air Zoom Generation in the 'First Game' colorway. The shoes were last released on March 21, 2023, for $180. The retro Nike LeBron's quickly sold out and now have an average resale price of $225, according to StockX.

Although James' signature line with Nike eventually took on the eponymous LeBron name, his first model was called the Nike Air Zoom Generation. In honor of his 20th anniversary, Nike restocked the retro shoes in Cleveland Cavaliers colors last month.

As always, Kelce is playing four-dimensional chess with his footwear. It will take a while for friends and teammates to let Kelce live down the viral moment. But his legendary sneaker rotation will live on forever.

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Published
Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. 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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