For the 20th NBA All-Star Game, LeBron James wore Nike LeBron 21 “DT Max ’96” Sneakers, which were inspired by Deion Sanders’ signature shoes

Wearing his Nike LeBron 21 sneakers, LeBron James made a statement on the floor during his 20th NBA All-Star Game participation, setting a record. One of Deion Sanders’ legendary signature shoes from the 1990s served as the inspiration for these limited-edition sneakers. The Air DT Max ’96, sometimes referred to as the Air Diamond Turf 3, is honored in the LeBron 21’s design with its characteristic clаw mark stripes. The sleek black and white color scheme of the sneakers, together with the gold embellishments, precisely match the colors of the Colorado Buffalos, for whom Sanders is the head football coach.

After a protracted break in which Sanders was not associated with the brand, Nike relaunched his third signature sneaker earlier this month, complete with his insignia. Up until now, the reissued shoes have not had the clаw markings on them. Sanders, who has previously signed with Under Armour, had previously said he would never work for Nike again, which makes his 2024 partnership with the company all the more noteworthy.

For this year’s NBA All-Star Game, Nike has also released three new basketball sneakers that are modeled after vintage styles. These include the GT Hustle 2, which honors the Air More Uptempo, the GT Cut 3, which draws inspiration from the Zoom Flight 5, and the GT Jump 2, which is fashioned by the Total Foamposite Max.

LeBron James has been selected to the All-Star team for 21 straight seasons, setting records in both categories. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had previously held the record with 19 appearances.

As of now, it remаins uncertain whether the Nike LeBron 21 “DT Max ’96” sneakers will be released to the public or remain exclusive to players. This article will be updated with further information as it becomes available, and Footwear News has reached out to Nike for comment.