LeBron James wore a special pair of shoes, the LeBron 21 Air DT Max, during the NBA All-Star 2024 game. These shoes were inspired by American football legend Deion Sanders, who famously wore the number 21 during his time in the NFL. LeBron James chose to pay tribute to Sanders in his 21st season by wearing these shoes.

The design of the LeBron 21 Air DT Max is similar to Sanders’ Air DT Max ’96, a classic shoe from the 1990s that Sanders frequently wore during the peak years of his career. The Air DT Max ’96 was revived as a popular version in 1996 and has remained in use to this day.

After retiring from football, Sanders had success in his coaching career and helped bring attention to the Air DT Max ’96. LeBron James decided to incorporate this design into his LeBron 21 basketball shoes for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game as a way to honor Sanders and celebrate his own 21-year career in the NBA.