Lakers superstar LeBron James has sparked new buzz among sneakerheads after being spotted at a game wearing a pair of unreleased shoes.
The 40-year-old hasn’t played yet this season, as he continues to recover from a nagging sciatica issue. Diagnosed on Oct. 9 with an estimated three-to-four-week recovery, his return has been delayed while the Lakers take a careful approach with their veteran star entering his 23rd season.
LeBron James’ Newest Sneakers Send Social Media Users Searching For Where They Can Get A Pair
It’s no secret that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a sneaker aficionado whose tastes have a significant impact on other fans worldwide. At the recent home game for his team, James was seen sporting an unreleased pair of sneakers, which immediately caught the attention of fans familiar with the brand.
LeBron James stepped out in an unreleased pair of the Converse First String Chuck 👀 pic.twitter.com/qWbSuFw68h
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) November 4, 2025
The forward was at the Lakers’ last home game against the Miami Heat, and was seen wearing an unreleased pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars from the brand’s premium collection, First String. The classic sneakers were in all black, save for the signature thick white soles, the toe caps and the All-Star patch.
Converse’s First String collection, as per their website, aims to reestablish the Chuck Taylor All Stars as “an artifact of craft, preserving the purest expression of Converse design while propelling it forward.” The collection was created to honor the shoe’s 100-plus years of influence on athletic footwear worldwide, as it has experienced a resurgence in popularity with a boost from Nike, which became its parent company in 2003.
The shoe has been revamped to include more elite elements, including an outsole manufactured by Italian outerwear giant Vibram. Other components include an improved sockliner featuring Nike technology and a wider overall fit.
The shoes are available at select premium retailers worldwide, including streetwear giant KITH. There’s a heavyweight canvas version that retails for $225 on their website, while the premium leather version carries a price tag of $250. At first glance, it appears that James is wearing the premium leather version.
James has grown to be a key influencer, especially in the shoe industry, dating back to the deal he first signed with Nike out of high school in 2003, which was for seven years and $90 million. He remains one of the biggest endorsement stars when it comes to basketball shoes, with his signature pair bringing in $340 million in the last 12 months through January of this year, according to information from SLAM Magazine.
Fans online mostly approved of the unreleased shoes, although a few detractors were also present. One fan wasn’t too thrilled, writing in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “The sneaker game is hanging on by a thread. Or a shoestring. “Unreleased”? These are literally just a regular pair or Chucks.”
The sneaker game is hanging on by a thread. Or a shoestring. “Unreleased”? These are literally just a regular pair or Chucks. https://t.co/PYXkjaXB9W
— DuffJuice (@DuffJuice30) November 4, 2025
But others lauded the shoes. “Tiny changes yet this is the CLEANEST chuck I’ve ever seen. Bravo @converse.”
Tiny changes yet this is the CLEANEST chuck I’ve ever seen. Bravo @Converse https://t.co/d60JynjL3p
— ♆ Macaulay☻Sulkin♀CRBN (@lordstoney) November 4, 2025
James has missed the first 10 games so far. Still, the team hopes to have him back by mid-to-late November, provided his rehab progresses smoothly. Even without him, the Lakers have stayed in the mix at 6–2 after an early loss to Portland. They bounced back in style Sunday with a 130–120 win over the Heat, where Luka Dončić led the way with a 29-point triple-double, Austin Reaves added 26 points and 11 assists, and Jake LaRavia chipped in 25 as the Lakers shot 50.5% from the field. In their last game, the Lakers secured a convincing 123-115 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, even without Doncic and Reaves.
Meanwhile, even sidelined, James is still setting trends, and his influence goes far beyond the box score.