Samples Stages // Nike LeBron 9 Elite in Olive / Black

words & images // Nick DePaula

Over the weekend, LeBron James got off to quite a good start as he led the Miami Heat to a 2-0 lead over the New York Knicks in his new $250 LeBron 9 Elites.

While you've certainly seen the White / Black / Gold version that made it to retail on Saturday, and probably got a good look at the player exclusive colorway that James wore in last night's win, here's a look at an early round sample of the 9 Elite that won't be releasing.

With an olive base, black accents and contrasting Pro Combat full sleeve, you'll notice quite a few differences from the final version that eventually released. The Swoosh has a different faded application. The outsole has a different traction pattern. The carbon fiber midfoot shank actually extends all the way into the forefoot. There's also different badging, like the "LeBron 9 P.S." strip along the medial side, and the since-changed "Flywire+Kevlar" wording along the heel.

Can you spot any other differences between this sample and the final LeBron 9 Elite? Take a detailed look ahead.

For more on the new LeBron 9 Elite, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with both Jason Petrie and Leo Chang.