Would You Spend $3,000 On LeBron’s New Shoes?

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January 20, 2017 10:34 AM

The wide-release edition kicks are all black and sort of look like if Marvin the Martian wanted to do something covert and athletic in the dead of night.

Nike LeBron 14

The King’s slick sneakers may not be worth the crazy price tag.

LeBron James is coming out with his Nike LeBron 14 sneakers on January 28. The wide-release edition kicks are all black and sort of look like if Marvin the Martian wanted to do something covert and athletic in the dead of night. However, a limited edition of the shoe—LeBron 14 Out Of Nowhere—is coming with a couple extra goodies.

The Out Of Nowheres look similar to the regular 14s, only instead of a regular shoe box, the shoes come in a box built out of the Quicken Loans Arena hardcourt, where the Cleveland Cavaliers played home basketball games last year. The box has special engravings on it and even comes with a replica NBA championship ring. The catch: As of this writing, bids on the 23 boxes are sitting at a minimum price of over $2,200. So, the real question: Are the shoes worth it?

The Shoes

I think if we’re lumping anything in with a Looney Tunes aesthetic, it’s not worth $2,000. Sorry, LeBron.

The Box

This is the best-case scenario when someone sees this shoebox in your house:

Friend: “Is that shoebox made of wood?”

You: “Yes, it’s made out of the court at Quicken Loans Arena.”

Friend: [long silence]

You: “That’s where LeBron and the Cavs won the championship.”

Friend: “Oh! Yeah that’s cool man.”

Not a $2,000 conversation.

The Ring

Unequivocally, no. This is corny. The ring isn’t even made out of real gold and diamonds, which would actually make the exorbitant price tag a much better bargain. Instead, it’s made from durilium metal and cubic zircon. Like items at the pharmacy, ingredients on a Cheetos bag, and protein supplements from Eastern Europe, purchases of things you can’t pronounce is not a good idea, and not worth $2,000.

All together though?

Look, the one thing you’re going to use from this box is the shoes, and they’re just not cool enough to warrant dropping a couple Gs. For some sleeker shoe suggestions, check out the best basketball shoes for men.

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