LeBron’s Next Budget-Friendly Sneaker Has Gotten Significant Upgrades

It looks like the Nike LeBron Witness, a LeBron James takedown model, will be getting its third iteration this year. If what we see in this leak is true then the latest build comes with some serious upgrades.

Last year’s LeBron Witness 2 was a rehash of what Nike started in 2016 with the lackluster $100 LeBron Zoom Witness; the Witness 2 rode atop the same traction as the original shoe, and featured small hex Zoom Air units in the forefoot. Additionally, the textile upper — which was reinforced by synthetics — was just as breathable as the first build. You can learn more by checking out Stanley T.’s LeBron Zoom Witness Performance Review.

Now, leaker @nikelebronnet has posted a first look at the upcoming LeBron Witness and wow. For the first time ever, the LeBron Witness will get what appears to be a Battleknit upper, the knit used on the LeBron 15, and beastly full-length herringbone traction.

Best of all, it looks like the 2018 LeBron Witness will ride atop a full-length Zoom Air unit. Nike has been offering that full-length unit at cheaper and cheaper price points — Russel Westbrook’s Why Not Zer0.1 Low has the full-length unit and retails for only $115 — so it makes sense to bring it to the LeBron Witness. The shoe shares more in common with the LeBron 15 than the outgoing LeBron Witness 2, and that’s a good thing.

There is still no official word yet on what exactly this new LeBron Witness will be called, when it will (if ever) arrive Stateside, or what it will cost. (If the shoe retails for the same $100 as the LeBron Witness 2 it will be the lowest price point Nike has offered full-length Zoom Air yet.) Usually, these beastly LeBron takedowns like the Ambassador line are reserved for overseas hoopers so we’ll keep you updated.

What do you think of this LeBron Witness build? Sound off in the comments below.

UPDATE 8/29/18: New images show “AIR” branding in the midfoot window so we may be getting a full-length Air unit.