The King's Wardrobe: Lebron James' Best Fits Over The Years
The league's all-time leading scorer may also be one of the most stylish players in the NBA today.
Lebron didn't need to pass Kareem last week to officially become the GOAT. He's been the GOAT since he came back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-9 Warriors in 2016-- spoiling their perfect season. Everything on top of this is icing on the cake. And that's a goddamn lot of icing.
As much as I'd love to create controversy, I don't wish to turn this into a Lebron vs. Jordan debate think piece. Lebron is a better all-around player who can do literally everything better than Michael Jordan. Does Jordan have a higher PPG? Sure, but he also shot a lot more (and less efficiently) than Lebron in an era where defensive rules and limitations made it easier to score. And let’s be real, there is no one else in the GOAT debate. Not Kareem, not Kobe, not Bird or Magic or Russell. And for the few of you out there that seem to think to the contrary, Steph Curry doesn’t even scratch the surface of the GOAT debate. It’s Lebron and Jordan, and I’ll pick Lebron every time. Oh God, I'm doing it, aren't I? Okay, no more GOAT debate talk.
Allow me a bit of personal history here. Before I fell in love with the fashion game, my first love was a bouncing orange ball. My mom signed me up for the basketball team when I was 8 years old in the 3rd grade and I complained all the way until my team's first game. I couldn't have been more displeased with the idea of playing this game that I didn't know anything about. All it took was one organized game to turn me. Feeling the ball in my hands during the adrenaline rush of a game in front of a crowd of friends and family hit me like a shot of heroin being injected into my veins. I was obsessed. It was all I wanted to do.
While I was a young basketball player eagerly learning everything I could about the beautiful game, an 18-year-old kid in Akron, Ohio was taking the country by storm. Lebron James was already a phenom, with camera crews following his team like herds of sheep. The media chronicled his every move. I remember watching Sportscenter in the morning while getting ready for school. Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt are showing high school highlights on the SC Top 10. They likened this young man to some of the great NBA players. There was no way he would be able to meet these heavy expectations. As an eight-year-old, I chose him to be my favorite player
Fast forward two decades and Lebron has surpassed every singly lofty expectation that had been placed on him. While my basketball career didn't make it out of high school, I watched my favorite players soar to new heights every season. It's been a journey of valleys and peaks, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm happy that the high school kid I chose as my favorite player when I was in the third grade ascended to the top of basketball's Mount Olympus.
Lebron's Style
Now let's get to the fits. In celebration of Bron becoming the league's all-time leading scorer I wanted to highlight some of my favorite Lebron looks over the years. He's one of the best-dressed players in the NBA along with the likes of SGA, Dwayne Wade, Jordan Clarkson, Frank Jackson, Nick "Swaggy P" Young, and Kevin Love. Let's jump into it.
Perhaps the most iconic look here. During the 2018 NBA playoffs, Lebron had the entire Cleveland Cavaliers roster fitted in custom-made Thom Browne suits. The team looked sharp as hell as they scraped their way into the finals where they eventually lost. For the majority of the playoffs, everyone on the team wore the full three-piece shrunken suit, but here Lebron goes for a modified look - opting for shorts and Nike sneakers, and a hoodie under the suit jacket. This is a masterclass in taking the classics and making the yours.
I love a monochromatic style moment, especially when it comes with a pop of color. Lebron loves a casual suit with a t-shirt underneath and some sneakers down low. The grey looks great with the breton top underneath and a grey overcoat bringing the monochromatic look together. The most notable part of the fit; however, is the Atmos x Nike Air Max 90s on his feat. This collab from 2017 was hyped at the time but overshadowed by the plethora of Yeezy and Off x White Nikes that dropped around the same time. They are one of my personal grails. One of the all-time most underrated sneakers in my opinion.
The cream-colored Nike x Sacai sneakers without socks are a good move when you're dressing for vacation in the middle of the season. I have tried and failed to ID all of the pieces in this fit, but you have to be confident to wear something like this when there are photographers everywhere.
Slim black jeans and a vintage t-shirt will always look good. Accessorize with a Goyard bag, some cool-kid sneakers, and a pop of color hoodie around the waist, and you have a great look.
Lebron's Watches
The king has an insane watch collection full of Rolexes, APs, Pateks, and Richard Milles. I can't even begin to fathom. He wore the Tiffany blue Patek Philippe Nautilus with an outfit that featured the Tiffany & Co. Nike dunks as well as a Tiffany & Co. Nike varsity jacket. He also has an ambassadorship with Audemars Piguet. The brand allowed him his own exclusive model, the Royal Oak Offshore Lebron James Edition, in 2015, which is currently selling for over $100,000 on the secondary market. The king's wrist game is truly one to behold.
Bron might be the best player in NBA history, but he also has a good, sense of personal style. It can be hard to style someone who's 6'9" and built like a freight train, but Lebron pulls it off effortlessly. He knows what works for him and isn't afraid to take some risks, playing with pattern/fabric.
I'll never have the money and fame that Lebron has, but maybe one day I can hope to wear a similar watch. People aren't talking about his collection enough. He sticks with classic brands, grabbing the hottest releases from the major Swiss houses. Maybe I'll DM him asking for the chance to grab one of his exclusive APs (for free of course). The worst he can say is no!
Peace and Love