Nike LeBron X Becomes Most Expensive Basketball Sneakers

 

Beaverton, OR

Nike is set to release later this year LeBron X, the most expensive basketball sneakers in history with retail value estimated at $315.

Nike spokesman Brian Strong refused to comment as to the accuracy of the price but Matt Powell, an analyst for market retail tracking firm SportsOneSource, told ESPN that retail could go as high as $290.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Nike Plus-enabled model in the LeBron James line has motion sensors to track various metrics including vertical leap.

A regular version of the shoe, without the Nike Plus technology, will also be sold for $180, the price of the LeBron 9, which came out last October.

"This is all about electronic componentry," Powell said. "The plus version of this shoe is a very expensive shoe for a very specific audience: the high school or college athlete that wants to improve their game by measuring their progress by wearing the shoes."

Powell estimates that Nike will make only about 50,000 pairs of the Nike Plus-enabled LeBron X's compared to 200,000 to 300,000 pairs of the regular version of the shoe.

James used the sneakers during the London Olympic Games and earned a gold medal for the United States.

In 1986, Nike's Air Jordan II broke the $100 basketball sneaker barrier and 16 years later, the company hit the $200 price tag when it released the Air Jordan XVII.

SportsOneSource reported last month that sales of sneakers that retail for more than $100 were up 30 percent on the year and sales of basketball shoes that cost more than $100 were up 50 percent.

LeBron's "X" Sneaker to Feature Nike+ Technology

LeBron James's new signature shoe "the LeBron X" is set to be sold in a package for $270 and will feature for the first time Nike+ enabled technology, Nike announced Thursday.

In an interview with ESPN, Nike spokesman Brian Strong said majority of LBJ's new pair of kicks will hit the stands on Sept. 29 for a retail price of $180.

However, the company will also release the Nike+ enabled version of LeBron X, which will feature a sensor technology embedded on the midsole of the shoe.

The LeBron X pack is consists of sensor, charger, and adapter and will be sold for $270. If the customers already bought the kit, they can still purchase the Nike+ enabled LeBron X for $200.

Nike+ LeBron X enables the one who wears it to measure his vertical leap, agility, speed, and other various metrics.

 

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