Nike Basketball unveiled the new Nike LeBron Witness IX PE Monday, a player-exclusive colorway in honor of Bronny James. The shoe not only symbolizes the LA Lakers rising guard and his famous father, but also Bronny’s backstory as a survivor, who has overcome several obstacles in order to reach his NBA dream.
The new shoe, which is the second such shoe in the series, leans into restraint. It features a tonal upper layered with subtle textures. It has red accents and features the name “Bronny” on the toe and his logo on the heel.
We wrote about Nike quietly moving to trademark the Bronny logo in early March. Now, that logo finds its way onto the Witness IX platform.
Bronny James’ journey from son of arguably the greatest player in NBA history to rising star with the Lakers is not linear. After committing to University of Southern California for college, Bronny collapsed during an early-morning practice on July 24, 2023 inside USC’s Galen Center. He suffered a cardiac arrest that was later attributed to a congenital heart defect. James’ future in basketball was suddenly in doubt.
Less than five months later, he returned to the court and made his collegiate debut with the Trojans. After his freshman season, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was selected in the second-round at No. 55 overall by the Lakers. That October, LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son teammates ever to share the court in the NBA.
This new sneaker lives in that space between what almost was and what now is.
The Witness IX PE becomes less about LeBron’s signature line and more about the upcoming evolution. A passing of narrative from one generation to the next and an example of Nike’s investment in the entire James family.
Nike also rereleased the Kobe 11 Protro “Fade to Black” the shoe worn by Kobe Bryant during his final regular season NBA game. Monday marks the 10-year anniversary of that game.
Nike also announced the Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Dodgers,” slated for a fall release, blending Los Angeles baseball blue with Kobe’s mythology.
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