LeBron James Reacts to LeBron XXII 'Crown Jewel' Shoes Hype Video and Release Date

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With less than a month before the release of the next edition of his signature shoe line, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is rightfully excited.

Nike released a video promoting the upcoming LeBron XXII "Crown Jewel" sneakers ahead of the Nov. 1 release date, and James reacted on social media with three emojis:

"We engineered the LeBron XXII to match his powerful and agile playing style," Ross Klein, senior director of men's basketball footwear product design, told Pat Benson of Kicks on SI. "To move with the force and precision LeBron needs, we focused on delivering maximum lockdown control, all while maintaining the speed, lightweight feel and court connection that he's loved in his recent signature models."

James debuted the Nike LeBron 22 over the summer while playing with Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics. He wore two new colorways before and during the gold-medal game against France on Aug. 10 on his way to helping the team achieve its fifth straight Olymic gold.

A new edition of James' signature line has been released by Nike every year since his first season in the NBA in 2003-04. He signed a lifetime contract with the company in 2015.

James will be embarking on the 22nd season of his iconic career when the Lakers open the 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 10 p.m. ET on TNT. Sneaker heads will certainly be excited to see which colorway the 39-year-old will be wearing when he takes the court in the season opener.

Video: Lakers' Anthony Davis Talks 'Strange' LeBron James to Warriors Trade Rumors

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It's not often LeBron James is in the middle of trade rumors, but the Los Angeles Lakers star found himself in that position last year amid speculation about a deal that would send him to the Golden State Warriors.

For his co-star Anthony Davis, it was odd to hear about James potentially being involved in a trade for the first time in his career.

"I wasn't on social media at the time so I didn't see it. I heard about... it was national news," Davis said. "But I don't think it affected anybody. I mean, I think that might be the first time ever he was in trade talks in his career. He's kind of seen everything, so I don't think that affected him, it didn't affect our team. But it was definitely strange to hear in a sense of like, it was the first time he's ever been talked about in a trade before."

In February, shortly after the trade deadline, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported that the Warriors proposed a trade for James that would bring him to Golden State, but James and the Lakers were not "willing to explore" the deal.

The blockbuster trade would have teamed up James and his longtime rival Stephen Curry, but he ultimately preferred to stick with Davis and Los Angeles.

For the first time, James and Curry played together as they led Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. James spoke highly of playing with the star he has competed against for the last decade.

"It was everything and more," James said Monday, per the Associated Press' Greg Beacham. "I was super excited to be able to finally team up with him in a win-or-die type atmosphere. That's what it was, being a part of the Olympics. It was everything that I dreamed of and aspired to want, to be a part of that team, along with Steph. Great memories. Something that I'll remember from my basketball career for the rest of my life, for sure."

Though he looks back at his time with Curry fondly, James admitted that he has "no idea" if he'll ever team up with him again, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

For now, James will focus on the season ahead for himself, Davis and the Lakers. Los Angeles finished last season 47-35 and reached the playoffs via the play-in tournament, losing to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

James, who will be 40 in December, is hoping to continue to add to his already historic resume with another title.

LeBron James eyeing JJ Redick's Job: Is his courtside pullover a fashion statement or a job application?

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James warming up before a preseason game in Las VegasLAPRESSE

Every basketball player has their unique pre-game ritual, and LeBron James is no exception.

From his early morning routines to his famous chalk toss, James has shared much about his preparation. However, a new ritual has surfaced, thanks to NBA Reddit, that may have some larger implications-especially for Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

LeBron James shows off epic moves shaking off criticism

LeBron James seen in Lakers coach's gear

LeBron's recent courtside behavior has raised eyebrows, not because of what he's doing on the court, but what he's wearing off it.

According to a Reddit thread, fans have noticed that James has been consistently sporting a coach's pullover instead of the traditional Lakers warm-up gear.

This subtle but notable shift has sparked questions: Is LeBron James positioning himself for a future in coaching, even while still actively playing?

It might sound trivial at first-after all, it's just a shirt.

But LeBron's switch to the coach's pullover over his player gear is raising intrigue about his intentions.

Could James be signaling his desire to take on a coaching role, either after he retires or even during his final playing years?

Redick still working on team leadership

Redick has brought a new sense of structure and calm to the Lakers, guiding them through a promising preseason despite a few setbacks.

While Redick has worked hard to establish his presence as the leader of the team, LeBron's words during Media Day hinted that his voice, too, holds significant weight on and off the court.

"I'll be an extension of the coaching staff on the floor,"James said, referring to his leadership role.

It's clear that James sees himself not just as a player, but as a strategic mind in the game.

His choice to wear the coach's attire only reinforces this idea, perhaps suggesting that he's ready to step into a more formal role at any moment.

As Lakers fans speculate over James' possible future in coaching, Redick's position as head coach could face scrutiny if the team is off to a slow start in the beginning of the season.

For now, the coaching pullover remains a symbol of the unknown-one that JJ Redick might want to keep an eye on.

Anthony Davis gives LeBron James to Warriors trade rumors 'strange' label

Anthony Davis recalls when the Los Angeles Lakers nearly went through a wholesale change at the 2023-2024 trade deadline that would have shaken up the entire league. The near-trade started with a rumor and ended with the Golden State Warriors attempting to send in an offer for LeBron James.

As the 2024-2025 season inches closer, Davis reflected on the moment that he called "strange." The 31-year-old said that nothing about the rumor affected the team and was a mere abnormal afterthought for most of the players.

"I can't remember how I heard about it, I think my dad called me," Davis said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "I don't think it affected anything [but] I think that might've been the first time that [LeBron James has] been in trade talks in his career. That didn't affect our team. It was definitely strange to hear in the sense of it was the first time he was talked about in a trade before."

The rumors were confirmed when ESPN reported that the Warriors went all-in on pursuing the trade at the deadline but were shut down by both Rob Pelinka and James' agent, Rich Paul. Golden State owner Joe Lacob reportedly reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to inquire about James' availability before general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. took over.

James had no desire to leave Los Angeles and ended the season with Davis on the Lakers. In the offseason, the team selected his son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, effectively guaranteeing that he would remain with the team for the rest of his career.

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Entering his 13th year in the NBA, Anthony Davis is gearing up for his sixth season with the Lakers in 2024-2025. Davis is coming off arguably his best season with the team, appearing in a career-high 76 regular season games.

Davis' health has been a major storyline throughout his career, having never played a full 82-game season. His 76 games in his fifth season with the Lakers marked the first time he appeared in over 60 games since his first year with the team in 2019-2020.

Ahead of the upcoming season the Lakers made the biggest change to the team by hiring JJ Redick at head coach but kept most of their roster intact from the previous year. Davis is expected to begin the year in the frontcourt alongside Rui Hachimura and LeBron James, the same lineup they ended 2023-2024 with.

LeBron James: 'No Idea' If Steph Curry and I Will Ever Team Up Again After Olympics

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled for two preseason games against the Golden State Warriors this week, and LeBron James spoke about his experience playing alongside Stephen Curry for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

James said teaming up with Curry was "everything I dreamed of," but when asked about the possibility of the two of them wearing the same uniform again at some point, he responded, "I have no idea."

James and Curry were among the headliners on a star-studded Team USA roster that included fellow former NBA MVPs Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid as well as a slew of All-Stars like Devin Booker, Anthony Davis and Anthony Edwards. The team had a perfect 6-0 run through the Paris Olympics, earning its fifth straight gold medal.

James discussed the confidence that came with playing alongside Curry and Durant, saying "that type of firepower" made it nearly impossible for them to fail.

"How do you lose when you have three of the best players to ever play the game of basketball?" James asked.

Curry also spoke about the connection he developed with James during their time together in the Olympics.

"All the battles we've had on the court and the back and forth, the fact that we actually got to be teammates, not just in any game like an All-Star game or whatever, but in high stakes basketball with a lot on the line...I think there's a deepened respect and friendship there," he told Natasha Dye of People last month, adding, "Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we're teammates or not."

Now, James and Curry will be back to vying for supremacy in a talented Western Conference during the 2024-25 campaign.

Does LeBron James Really Spend $1.5 Million Per Year On His Body?

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is entering an unprecedented campaign. There is no denying that he is still an elite player and one of the best in the league, yet he is entering his 22nd NBA season, tying Vince Carter for the most ever by a player.

In his 22nd season, Carter was a bench player without a guaranteed role for the Atlanta Hawks. So it remains a mystery how James had fended off Father Time and remained one of the best players in the league. It has been rumored, though, that part of James' secret is a multi-million dollar budget on things to take care of his body.

James finally got the chance to address these rumors in the Netflix series "Starting 5," following the lives of five NBA players during the 2023-24 season.

"I've heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body per year and I kind of just chuckle. That is a number that I will not disclose, but more importantly, I think it's the time," James said.

LeBron, of course, probably spends significant amounts to take care of his body. It may not even be a number that he fully knows. But whatever he is doing to keep his play and his health at this level, he should continue doing so, as it has bought him and the Lakers extra years of good basketball.

It remains to be seen how much longer James is going to be able to fight off Father Time. The battle he has put on so far is perhaps the most impressive the sports world has ever seen. But he has already begun hinting at the retirement conversation, meaning that the battle is slowly coming to an end.

LeBron James is not only one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball, but also has his hands in a ton of off-court things. Quite simply, LeBron is one of the most influential athletes the world has ever known and he will continue to make a great impact long after his playing career is done.

In the world of fashion, the biggest night of the year is the Met Gala where all of the biggest names and faces from around the world come out. And in 2025, LeBron is now set to to be part of that as well.

On ESPN's NBA Today, Malika Andrews announced that James was named a co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala alongside the likes of actor Colman Domingo and F1 star Lewis Hamilton, among others.

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LeBron James Campaigning for Son Bronny to Have Own Call of Duty Character Skin; “Let’s Talk” Activision Says

While LeBron James might be one of the best basketball players of all-time, another feather the NBA legend can put in his cap is how in the coming NBA season, he will be the first player in league history to play alongside his son on the same floor. It seems the father and son duo are not stopping there, as they're now aiming to be in Call of Duty as well.

Over on Twitter, LeBron mentioned how his son Bronny wants to have his own operator skin in Call of Duty, and even tagged the official Activision and Call of Duty Twitter accounts to "talk" to him:

Not one to bypass a chance for more promotion, the official Call of Duty account replied that they want to talk to, and how the first father-son duo NBA history could be the first one in Call of Duty history as well.

Needless to say, not only is LeBron influential enough to get his own son drafted by the L.A. Lakers, but seems to have enough clout to get him into Call of Duty even. Chances are, Activision will integrate LeBron and Bronny as operator skins for the soon-to-be released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which should also be available to use in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Will We See LeBron and Bronny in Call of Duty?

Will this happen? Given LeBron is interested, Activision is also interested, I'd say yes. Once the legalities and money is out of the way, there's no stopping LeBron and his son from appearing in Call of Duty. They will probably be part of a cosmetic bundle to be sold, which means players have the choice of not buying it at all if they don't want to.

LeBron and his son won't be the first or more recent NBA player to make their way into Call of Duty. as we got Kevin Durant introduced in Modern Warfare 2 last year.

This isn't Bronny James' brush with video games as well, as just a few months ago, Bronny commented on what rating he felt he deserved in NBA 2K25.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be released this October 25 on the PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Will we see LeBron and Bronny's operator skins drop soon after? Once we get more news about that, we'll let our readers know.

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Kai Cenat Couldn’t Stop Himself From Mimicking LeBron James After Trying Lakers Superstar’s Special Hennessy

Kai Cenat And LeBron James (Images Cred it: Getty Images)

LeBron James' new partnership with Hennessy has caught a lot of attention, but not just for the drink itself. Popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat made the collaboration even more fun when he reviewed the LeBron Hennessy edition on his stream. After taking a sip of the cognac, Cenat hilariously mimicked one of LeBron's most famous moments from the 2020 NBA Bubble.

In that memorable game against the Portland Trail Blazers, LeBron James was caught on camera having a fun moment. He excitedly yelled, "It ain't our ball? It ain't our ball? It's our ball, ain't it… It's our ball!!!" when the Lakers realized they had possession of the ball. This moment quickly went viral and became one of LeBron's most popular memes, showing his energy and passion for the game.

Recently, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat decided to recreate this famous scene after trying Hennessy. He jokingly said, "LeBron, you thought they were going to put your DNA in some alcohol, and I wasn't going to try this sh*t? Are you telling me if I drink this, I become LeBron? 'Ain't that our ball?'… I feel taller."

His funny imitation had fans laughing, especially when he joked that drinking the cognac made him feel "taller," just like LeBron. This mix of humor and nostalgia brings back memories and keeps LeBron's lively spirit alive in popular culture.

Cenat and LeBron have a good friendship, which started during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two met there when LeBron was leading Team USA to a gold medal. Cenat even shared a picture of them together, with the caption "Uh Oh," joking about their surprise meeting. The two also bond over video games, often playing NFL Madden together.

This funny moment on Cenat's stream is just another example of LeBron's off-court personality, which has kept him in the public eye for years. While LeBron continues to build his business empire with partnerships like his Hennessy and Lobos tequila brands, moments like these make fans feel connected to him in a fun and relatable way.

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LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for the new season. The Lakers recently played their first preseason game, and while LeBron James' performance wasn't perfect, he put up 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 16 minutes of play. Fans are excited to see how he and the team will perform as they prepare for the regular season.

Also Read: Skip Bayless Takes Brutal Shots At LeBron James For Complaining About The Lakers' Preseason Schedule 

Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri James Clown Their Dad LeBron’s Feet: 'No Comment'

After years on the court, LeBron James ' feet are a bit strange looking—at least to his kids.

In a clip from Netflix 's new docuseries, Starting 5, Bron's three kids, Bronny , Bryce, and Zhuri hilariously commented on their dad's feet, with the two sons saying, "No comment," when asked.

"Everyone has seen his feet. You don't need to know more about that," Bronny added, as Zhuri's face was pinched with laughter. She then shared her two cents: "The funny, funny thing is when his toe is on top of the other one!"

The clip then cuts to a shot of LeBron's feet and him comparing them to a Porsche 911—certainly an interesting take.

Elsewhere in the doc, the iconic LA Laker and his wife, Savannah opened up about Bronny's medical emergency for the first time. In 2023, the now 20-year-old suffered cardiac arrest during a USC practice.

"I think at the end of the day, it was just about us supporting each other and just being super grateful for the outcome," Savannah said while tearing up.

"Shout out to the man above," LeBron added. "It's crazy with kids, when they love something and they want something, that's all that matters to them," he explained. "As a parent, you're like, 'You had a cardiac arrest, like...,' and in his mind he's like, 'Can I or can I not play ball again and if the answer is yes, when can I play ball again?'"

Last August, Bronny was diagnosed with an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect.

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty

Following surgery, he was cleared to play again last November; he has since been drafted to the NBA and now plays alongside his dad for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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