Nike’s LeBron 23 Honor The King Is the Latest Nike Release to Spark Debate

The LeBron 23 “Honor The King” is the new Nike basketball shoe inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Visually, it’s stunning, but people are split on the idea behind the new drop. Some see it as a tribute honoring a hero’s legacy, while others feel uneasy about a big brand making money from civil rights themes and MLK’s story.

A Tribute that Sparked Backlash

The LeBron 23 “Honor The King” builds on a long running Nike LeBron partnership that often ties special colorways to cultural or historical moments, including previous Black History Month and MLK Day editions. This time, the story links three threads: Dr. King’s legacy, the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where he was assassinated, and James’s 51 point MLK Day game in Memphis in 2008.

Critics say building the shoe around the place where King was killed, instead of his life and work, turns a memorial site into something to sell. Some activists and writers have called the release ‘tone deaf’ and too focused on profit. They point out that King spoke out against economic exploitation, while this is an expensive sneaker tied to the spot where he died.

On the company’s side, John Jowers, Nike’s vice president for communications, says that “Design is so subjective, and some people the design will resonate with, and others maybe less so, and obviously that becomes a little bit more charged when you have bigger principles at play…I think the intent, though, was really to pay homage to Dr. King, his life and his legacy.”

Design Leans on Lorraine Motel

Visually, the shoe is anchored by a teal/aqua palette modeled after the exterior of Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, now home to the National Civil Rights Museum. The shoe comes in a bright Hyper Jade and Bleached Turquoise color palette with contrasting deep blue and gold accents across the upper, Swoosh, and branding hits.

Details on the heel include an “Honor the King” callout and references to equality and James’s 51 point performance in Memphis, tying performance history to the commemorative narrative. That mix of sharp color blocking and clear storytelling makes the sneaker visually strong, even as the concept remains contested.

Since the controversy the the museum has distanced itself from the release. Russell Wigginton, the president of the National Civil Rights Museum, said that “We certainly don’t mind people recognizing and appreciating the work that we do and what happened here…But we have not been a part of any aspect of that, of the sneaker coming out.”

Release and Access

The LeBron 23 “Honor The King” is a special edition colorway, priced at $210 for adult sizes at Nike and select retailers. Youth sizes will be cheaper, and some stores are already giving shoppers early access before the main drop.

The shoe is expected to release around Black History Month on February 24, 2026, after LeBron James first wore it on court in Memphis on January 2. It will be limited, but not impossible to get, with pairs expected on Nike’s website and at select basketball and sneaker retailers in key markets.

Performance First Basketball Build

Despite the controversy, it’s still a modern LeBron game shoe people can actually play in, whether they’re on outdoor courts or in the gym. The LeBron 23 uses full length cushioning, a supportive midsole, and traction designed for multi directional grip, making it a true top tier on court option in Nike’s basketball range.

For players, it reflects a bigger trend in signature shoes that try to blend storytelling with high level performance, especially around key cultural moments like MLK Day and Black History Month. For collectors and fans, the “Honor The King” colorway sits where meaningful storytelling meets a strong design, even as some people question whether this particular story should have been turned into a product at all.