Nike LeBron 15 Performance Review

Check out how the Nike LeBron 15 holds up on court in this performance review.

Nike LeBron 15
Image via Nike
Nike LeBron 15

The Nike LeBron 15 gets LeBron James' signature line timing back on track after the introduction of the 14 was delayed all the way until Christmas in 2016. The new shoe was first spotted on the feet of James in a promo shot of the Cavs’ new uniforms back in August, followed by a full-fledged unveiling in concert with the Kith Sport fashion show held in early September.

Following lackluster responses to the past few additions to the line, the 15 was met with relative praise. It was a major shift in design, and one that was needed considering the popularity of James’ team-based models had arguably usurped that of his signature line, thanks to his championship winning Soldier 10s.

The Nike LeBron 15 has a familiar look, and utilizes some familiar technologies, but that doesn’t mean it is simply rehashing old ideas—Battleknit and a new combined Zoom and Max Air bag were created specifically with James’ needs in mind.  The big questions is whether these changes were just made for the sake of marketing, or if they are actual improvements to prior technology.

Hover over the dots for a full performance breakdown to find out.

Nike LeBron 15 - Fit

Nike LeBron 15 - Ankle Support

Nike LeBron 15 - Cushioning

Nike LeBron 15 - Traction

The LeBron 15 doesn’t offer anything truly groundbreaking in terms of its design, but it’s taken existing concepts and improved on nearly everything. It has better Flyknit thanks to the additional structure, and an evolution of Air that harnesses the best of both Zoom and Max. The upper feels a bit like a reaction to current trends, but it offers a more powerful and sculpted design than other shoes with a similar aesthetic.

The traction was the only real downer for me, but it wasn’t bad enough to ruin the things I did like. It may not be the right shoe for all players—it’s more of a luxury car than a sports car. It doesn’t feel slow, but you’d never mistake it for a stripped-down shoe geared towards the fastest guards. It is, however, a ridiculously comfortable package—even when fully laced for game wear—and my favorite addition to the LeBron line in a very long time.