Patrick Johnson 
When Nike showcases its Elite Basketball Series, it can only mean one thing: playoff basketball is on the horizon. The Eastern Conference playoff bracket couldn’t look more different than last year’s. You might’ve noticed the Atlanta Hawks sitting atop the conference with a cushiony lead, but the team seeded at number two has been under more scrutiny than any of the other 29 NBA squads this year and they have one man to thank for the ride – LeBron James. He immediately turned the Cavaliers into the talk of the NBA, and despite a disastrous 19-20 start, the Cavs have the 2nd seed all locked up, leaving fans to wonder whether LeBron could actually carry a young Cleveland team full of inexperience to the Finals in just his first year back.
He’ll have the LeBron 12 Elite to help him along the way, as the bolstered model features a completely transformed construction to help lighten the load for LeBron come playoff time. One of the more interesting tidbits was the lingering ‘6’ motifs throughout the LeBron 12, as Nike didn’t have enough time to react to his sudden switching of cities and return to his original number. Here you’ll notice a bold ‘2-3’ stitching on the heel while a Cavs appropriate University Red and Bright Citrus colorway demands attention. The unique Hexagonal air system makes an icy return as does the Megafuse mesh base, but the slimmed down Hyperposite support system uses nearly half of the materials to ensure a lightweight ride that doesn’t skip out on support. If LeBron can carry the Cavs to the NBA Finals in only his first year back, this shoe will go down in the history books, recapping a once tumultuous season and standing for something much more – transformation.
The Nike LeBron 12 Elite debuts April 17th for $175.
Source: Finishline
Nike LeBron 12 Elite
Color: University Red/Bright Citrus-Bright Crimson-White
Style Code: 724559-618
Release Date: April 17th, 2015
Price: $175
