Matt Varga “UP UP and AWAY!! SUPER WASHED Ain’t He??!!” Take issue with how he rolled out his (lowercase) decision or that he won’t be wearing your team’s jersey next year if you wish, but a 41-year-old LeBron James once again demonstrated how much the NBA universe revolves around him two decades into his illustrious career.
Beyond getting our first look at how he, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid will all mesh on the floor, we’re counting down the days until next season to get a glimpse of the Nike LeBron 24, a record-breaker by a mile in terms of how deep into an actual playing career a signature series has stretched. There’s still business to settle when it comes to its predecessor, however. The Nike LeBron 23 has followed up a series of narrative-driven colorways with some look-back pairs, reviving classic player-exclusive layouts like the “Stewie Griffin” or the “Hardwood Classics.”
Yet there’s still plenty of room for some actual exclusives. As the 2026 cycle wraps up, we’re getting a glimpse of just that with the Nike LeBron 23 “EYBL.” Close James confidant Frankie Walker Sr., having already flexed the LeBron 23 “Watch the Throne” and LeBron 23-20, shows off a fiery red edition with crown graphics running down the sidewalls. As with most EYBL pairs, these are exclusive to either circuit participants or friends and family, in this case. You can still get a sense from afar via the images below.
