# Athlete-Honoring Sneakers Nike Honors Lebron James' Game with Piece for Art of a Champion Capsule By Amy Duong | Published 2018-04-13 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/art-of-a-champion References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2018/4/nike-zoom-lebron-soldier-1-release-date) & [nike](https://www.nike.com/ca/en_gb/launch/) [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tr1) Basketball brings life back to the Zoom LeBron Soldier 1 sneaker silhouettes as a part of its Art of a Champion collection. The sneakers will mark the revival for the first time ever since the piece had been retro'ed. The celebratory launch commemorates LeBron James' unforgettable performance in the fifth game of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers were playing against the [Detroit Pistons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/b01-44-nfl) at the time and James scored 29 points with 25 of them straight. The return of the silhouette boasts the same midnight navy blue and white colorway across the uppers, with detailing accents finished in gold. The athlete-honoring sneakers will be returning next month on may 31, and will be available at select Nike Basketball retail locations and on the Nike SNKRS app. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Athlete-honoring Sneakers:** With the increasing trend of athlete-honoring sneakers being launched, there may be an opportunity for companies to release limited edition footwear celebrating special moments in an athlete's career. - **Reviving Retro Sneakers:** The revival of retro sneakers allows companies to appeal to the nostalgia of consumers and offer limited edition collections that can be seen as collectors' items among sneaker enthusiasts. - **Personalized Sneaker Collections:** There may be an opportunity for companies to create personalized sneaker collections for athletes or celebrities, offering unique designs that reflect their individual style and brand image. ### Where This Applies - **Athletic Footwear Industry:** The athletic footwear industry can capitalize on the trend of athlete-honoring sneakers and retro designs by releasing limited edition collections that cater to enthusiasts and collectors. - **Sports Marketing Industry:** As the trend of athlete-honoring sneakers and personalization continues to rise, companies in the sports marketing industry may have an opportunity to create unique campaigns and endorsements that showcase the humanity and individuality of professional athletes. - **Fashion Industry:** With the increasing popularity and demand for high-end sneakers, the fashion industry may find opportunities to collaborate with athletic footwear companies to create exclusive collections that appeal to both sportswear and streetwear consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Athlete-Backed Sports Training Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tr1.md) - [Athlete-Backed Game Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-game-console.md) - [Basketball-Honoring Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bb-4000-li-basketball-shoes.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Lifestyle Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linen-edition.md) - [Performance Basketball Tributes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kobe-3-protro-halo.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Apparel Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/halo-2.md) - [Pink Tonal Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-promise-colorway.md) - [Candy-Themed Tonal Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ja-2.md)