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In 2012, Nike Basketball will raise the bar in basketball performance technology by releasing the Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite – the second overall installment of the Nike LeBron 9 featuring prime cuts of design concept and performance engineering. While sneakerheads were surely excited for the upcoming release, the $250 price-tag raised a few eye-brows, with the valid question of “Is $250 sneaker worth the money?” rising from the debate. $250 easily sets the mark as the highest priced Nike Basketball shoe of this generation, but the manufacturers are catering to two distinct demographics – the ballers and the sneakerheads. Would either sample group drop $250 on a pair of sneakers? That number is rather tame compared to the high-end football boots, which often run in the $400 range, but in America, it’s a figure we’re certainly not accustomed to (nor would anyone agree that basketball sneakers are ready to move up in price).
Sneaker News first showed you these interesting detailed images of this LeBron 9 shoe back in mid-September, referring to it a Prototype sample (likely the Elite). Now that we know that this is the majority of the structural building block of the P.S. Elite, we can now pinpoint some of the key design features. For one, the exposed and thicker Flywire cables are something new to the Nike LeBron line, but this could be just an endoskeleton of the shoe. Another noteworthy detail is the cushioning unit, which is neither full-length Max Air nor Max/Zoom combo, but what appears to be a full-length, basketball-specific, visible Zoom Air unit. The silhouette of the P.S. Elite is similar to that of the LeBron 9, but gone is the weave-wing panel, which has been replaced by ample Flywire-laden sheets that wrap the heel and up to the ankle. Take a look once more at the Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite below and let us know what you think of the shoe. via cork
UPDATE: It has been brought to our attention that the prototype sample seen here is not actually the LeBron 9 P.S., but hopefully we may be seeing something similar a little further into the future.
89 Responses to “Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite”
December 19th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
lol.. i hope this is a joke..
December 19th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
wait what………..
December 19th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
I bet LeBron gets his ass plugged after a tough loss by chris boss in these shoes!
December 19th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
It looks like a decepticon…
December 19th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
can't really see too much of a resembllance to the regular 9's. How bout we just call these the 10's?
December 19th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING I MIGHT ROCK BUT FOR $250, NIKE CAN SHOVE THIS 1 UP THEIR ASS. I ALREADY PAY $200 FOR FOAMS, I WONT SPEND A PENNY OVER THAT (NO PUN INTENDED) LOL
December 19th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
pretty sick imo… so much money though
December 19th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
These resemble the 8's more then the 9s imo..
December 19th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
+1 if you think this design is better than the 9s
December 19th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
In Canada we pay $200-250+ retail already Foamposite's retail for I think $270
Concords $220 Kobe vii supreme around $250 so if these are going to have a $250 US retail these will be a $300 shoe in Canada !
December 19th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
+1 if u think this design is better than the 9s
December 19th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
this shit bout ugly as hell but i best it performs like a beast. excited to see more CWs and maybe trying em on (fawk buying em lol)
December 19th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
i like it but not for 250, too many jordan retros comming out
December 19th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
With a bit of work this could actually turn out as a nice shoe.. Just my opinion but you never know!
December 19th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
This is just ugly to wear casually. Purely performance shoes. Thats it!
December 19th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
much better than the 9! but what a price!
December 19th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
i swear i saw this same picture months ago on NIKETALK.. step your game up sneakernews
December 19th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
basically same shape as the 8's smh
December 19th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Really nike? 250? like your profit margin isn't wide enough.How can u justify $250 for a general release basket ball shoe? there isnt even leather!! rubber cost me $250?! absurd.People take a stand for once,this is just pure greed.
December 19th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
what a joke
December 19th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse
December 19th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
i don't feel to great about these, especially for the supposed $250 pricetag
December 19th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
these scream prototype to me
December 19th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Umm…The fuck?
December 19th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
$250 for a pair of Lebrons? Good lawd thats a lot of money…. How about I give u $5 in change and 2
tic tacs….
December 19th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
these could be tough
December 19th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
…I can't see myself wearing these with STREETWEAR but I'm sure its a QUALITY BASKETBALL SHOE.
December 19th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Uhhhhhhh???
December 19th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Where is the nike swoosh…
December 19th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
i dont care if i saw the final product now, im still gonna complain about the price lol.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
i cant wait to see the final product.
think about it, we saw the 8's (said wtf) and got pre heats, miami nights, entourage
we saw 9's (said huh) and got chinas, cannons, freegums
lets wait and see! why judge now.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Heinekens followed by the Laneys then Tokyos for me
December 19th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
true red VII's get my vote.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
These are exactly the same as the "fakes" Air Randy sold. All from the same damn factory…
December 19th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I would've said ok
But what happen to the toe lol
December 19th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
i wanted the china's but Lebron 9's are getting a lil outta control now…. And why exactly should i pay more for lebrons than i do for Jordan Retros when Lebron hasn't won ANYTHING.. I cant do it even if i like them ..which i don't
December 19th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
see here go yo gay ass using my name again!
December 19th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
*cough cough $250? You serious
December 19th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
i hope this is a concept. I like the idea but the execution here isn't $250.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:13 am
you gotta be fucking kidding me right? $250 for some ugly ass shoes. Not even if they were made of fucking platinum would they cost that much wtf
December 20th, 2011 at 12:15 am
Nope, Nope, Nope!
December 20th, 2011 at 12:53 am
prototype for the 10's…its already changed and is different than this though…(rumored)
December 20th, 2011 at 1:04 am
This is a performance shoe, just like the soccer cleats that nike sells for 400 dollars. If they are anything like the cleats, believe you me that athletes will buy them.
December 20th, 2011 at 1:06 am
these are not nearly worth the 250 because theyre a prototype. jus wait till they add lebrons ugly ass name logo all over it kids, then youll see the value LOL . releasing a playoff shoe so early would be funny if they dont even make it (unlikely)
December 20th, 2011 at 1:10 am
…hmmm,you're right. It's nowhere to be found.Wonder if? it will stay that way for GENERAL RELEASE?
December 20th, 2011 at 1:12 am
…now that you mentioned it…I think I remember that?
December 20th, 2011 at 1:12 am
yeah i know man it sucks to see all these people complaining about $250 mean while if we get ir for less than $200 it means ur lucky!
December 20th, 2011 at 1:14 am
rumors said that there is a zoom air embeded inside the air max bubble… its like zoom inside then max outside… ill wait for the final product..
December 20th, 2011 at 1:14 am
this is just a prototype..its not the final release…
December 20th, 2011 at 1:16 am
BOYCOTT!!! dont buy these to lower the price…
December 20th, 2011 at 1:22 am
lebron doesn't want 360airbag, so this IS NOT what it will look like at all
December 20th, 2011 at 1:44 am
Agreed
December 20th, 2011 at 2:00 am
haha I can see some butthurt kobe dickriders
December 20th, 2011 at 2:23 am
another hideous lebron boot shape shoe! just as hideous as the 9's, really dont see what people see in the 9's nor in the elites but lebron dickriders eat up anything lebron!
December 20th, 2011 at 3:49 am
tell me more
December 20th, 2011 at 4:24 am
hmm no swoosh, no lbj branding… either its just an endoskeleton like the article says or it might be nike id? that would be the only reson to justify the price. dont get all riled up and shout boycott!!!! just wait until the price comes down. notice the trend of starting to see too many generatrions of lines. example im in the OC and i hit up spots in LA and OC and im constantly seeing kobe 5's and 6's. lebrons, carmelos and few retros here and there. heck JB is the worst, i mean you got at least two or three of there fusion lines (since thats all JB is now, a fusion and retro company) taking up floor space. all of em, rose has three kicks on the shelf at the same time, the list goes on and on. you walk into a foot locker or footaction and you hit with a kaleidoscope of colors. is it just me or do shoe walls look ugly in the common spots? damn i sarted to rant. err point being, im always running into deals from previous models so it gives me the chance to be more selective. happy holidays ya'll
December 20th, 2011 at 4:33 am
Hate seeing a new shoe in all black but from the looks these will be trash
December 20th, 2011 at 4:59 am
Batman shoes????…. o.O'
Hate em
December 20th, 2011 at 5:00 am
I saw this pic before…..this is called recycling
December 20th, 2011 at 6:23 am
Damn homie!! at those rates how many people do you really see with heat ??..I'd have to be even more picky about my selections!
December 20th, 2011 at 6:34 am
Well I'm geging them stop being cheap
December 20th, 2011 at 7:06 am
they said it was mentioned on sneakernews in september…
December 20th, 2011 at 7:09 am
better construction than retroed jordans, evolution of technology in the shoes, and overall inflation man, i hate it but we got pay for what we want…
December 20th, 2011 at 11:10 am
All of you broke-ass complaining monkeys need to stop bitchig about prices all the fucking time, get off your asses and get a JOB, especially you"rosay", always saying irrelevant shit, you probably wear fakes, since you dont get enough monthly allowance money to buy the real shit, you dumb 13year old.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:27 am
the silhouette is like the lebron 8's in front.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
$250 walking shoes? i know less than 5% ball in their $150+ pairs so i say again $250 walking shoes?
December 20th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
We all know wat a prototype looks like..so stop complaining. This is clearly not the final product. All of yall comparing it to Foams bc of the price but Foams are uncomfortable,General Release and Overrated. Lets not forget, Lebron has just about as many NBA Championships as Penny does but Lebrons number are better. Im not a LBJ lover Im jus stating real facts. Most of us on this site our real sneaker collectors or sneakerheads. Im looking foward to getting these. Im tired of seeing kids wear retros and pretending they are authentic sneaker heads. There was no text or internet back when I started. U kids have it too easy. Stop complaining. 250 is a price that REAL Sneaker Collectors will pay , not sum young internet searching, name droppin hypebeast. Have most of u kids ever seen Jordan,Penny,Pippen or Barkley even play. No, U could get off ur parents porch untill 2008. Just keep asking mommy n daddy for allowence and save ur book fair money.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
READ people, like mhm said they are not finished its a prototype. I think this prototype has a lot of promise. I hope it's not a joke! I hope they finish these and they could look sick as hell. It has most of the parts of the 8s and just very small parts of the 9s. These popped up a long time ago and I liked them then. If most of you saw a prototype of your favorite shoe you prolly wouldn't like it. Im just sayin.. its hard to judge a prototype bc they change SO MUCH before release.
December 20th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
i mean i don't mind your comment cause i love it up my butt.
December 20th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Totally agree with you homie,If these come out, I am copping these bad boys. Word to big bird.
December 20th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
yea but miami nights and cannons were trash. all hype
December 20th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
wtf is a book fair? lol
December 20th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Just wait til these go on sale. $125 copped for balling. These are uglier than lebron's face.
December 20th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
I'M NOT NECESSARILY COMPLAINING BUT THE PRICES OF SHOES ARE RIDICULOUS NOW AND DAYS. PLUS I DO HAVE A LIFE, SO I HAVE BILLS TO PAY. GROWN MAN PROBLEMS LOL
December 20th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Ban me.
December 20th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
ban me
December 20th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Looks like some shit Batman would wear.
December 21st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Regardless, prototype or no prototype $250 is a fuckin joke.
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 am
the shape of it is nice, i like it better than the actual 9s, other than that it looks like lebrons ass cheeks
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:44 am
#truth^
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:47 am
this is the Lebron 10….
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:50 am
Man, I know you had book fairs back in the day, so did I! But, I'm pretty sure these youngsters have no clue what a book fair is! My elementary school had one every year in our little cafeteria.
December 22nd, 2011 at 1:05 am
Did Nike forget about the economy?
December 22nd, 2011 at 2:13 am
$250? For GR LeBrons? REALLY?
i got an idea, how bout i give you 3 quarters of $250 since thats whats LeBrons giving me here in miami in the playoffs.
lol
jk
December 22nd, 2011 at 6:26 am
I live in Australia, and this is how much we pay for sneakers over here.
Lebron 9's are $240 here and hyperdunks are $180
Most Nikes cost that much, especially the rarer colourways of Dunks and AF1
You guys in America should be thankful this is one of the few shoes that cost this much
December 22nd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Yea the price is a little high but $180 for Concords, $170 for LBJ 9s and $200 for Foams are all ridiculous prices.. Don't even get me started on the Yeezys (Rumored $350 retail for Yeezy 2s) . The pricing is out of control on ALL sneakers PERIOD. If you dont wanna spend that much on kicks you can always hit up Payless!
December 22nd, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Wow that was so original. You guys are just pissed because fans don't show up until the 4th quarter, so they only get to see Lebron suck it up (see I can make corny, overused jokes also). GO BULLS!
February 5th, 2012 at 11:49 am
hell yeahhhhhh kickssss
March 3rd, 2012 at 2:11 pm
I'm sorry to say this but these are going to be the hyperdunks for the olympics don't believe me look on nike basketballs facebook