The Nike LeBron 16 will receive the "Oreo" treatment for one of its first five colorways releasing this Fall. As you'd expect from any sneaker bearing the Oreo name, the kicks come dressed in a black and white knit upper, but there are also several subtle details that have nothing to do with beloved Nabisco cookie.
For instance, the "Oreo" LeBron 16 features “BBZ” on the left heel as a nod to LeBron's kids Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri, and Akron's "330" area code on the right sneaker. A specific release date has not yet been announced, but the kicks are expected to drop in the coming weeks for the retail price of $185.
The LeBron 16 introduces Battleknit 2.0, an evolved version of the scalloped knit that first debuted on the Lebron 15. According to Nike, its structure increases tensile strength (important to contain James’s lateral force on court) and it has an elegant finish matching James’s current style.
“The knit team at Nike are geniuses,” says LeBron 16 designer Jason Petrie. “I don’t use that term lightly. They are mathematical artists and have created a new knit for the 16 that is strong enough to contain LeBron and successfully reduces any layers in the overall build that could slow him down.”
According to Nike, the LeBron 16’s other notable feature is its height. At LeBron's request, Petrie formed the shoe with a lower collar, which allows the athlete to move more freely.
“The first thing we wanted to do was get a little lower in the cut of the shoe,” says James. “I wanted to get a little faster, ride a little bit closer to the court and be a little bit more dynamic.”
Underfoot, a simple evolution of the Max Air cushioning platform introduced in the LeBron 15 supports James’s dynamic desires. “LeBron liked the cushioning so much last year that we just focused on refining it,” says Petrie. “For this addition, we removed the tendril that connected the forefoot to the under-toe bag, and instead included an outrigger to create some additional support to complement the lower height.”