LeBron James debuted the ‘LeBron 15 Equality PE’ in the Cleveland Cavaliers season opened this October. This was during the height of the NFL’s national anthem protests, and with the NBA deciding that anthem protesting wasn’t going to happen in their league, James felt compelled to make some kind of statement on national television.
After the season opener, James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that his thought process behind the shoe was simple. “I just wanted to keep the conversation going, keep the conversation going,” James told ESPN. “We know what we’re going through. We know what we went through as a nation, as a world [recently]. So I had an opportunity to use a platform for the greater good and keep the conversation going. Why not?”
With the Cleveland Cavaliers in Washington on Sunday night to play the Wizards, James debuted a new look using both the white and black versions of his ‘LeBron 15 Equality PE’. As ESPN’s Dave McMenamin noted, this is no accident. James has a rich history of understanding the moment. He’s in Washington, this is his platform, and this is his message.
LeBron James with the interesting symbolism on his feet playing in the nation's capitol: One black shoe, one white shoe with "EQUALITY' on the backs of them
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 17, 2017
James has been very outspoken in his support for equality, social justice, and his disdain for current U.S. President, Donald Trump. James famously called out Trump for his role in enabling hate groups during the tragic events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, this summer. James also defended his NBA brother, Stephen Curry, after Trump rescinded the Golden State Warriors’ invite to visit the White House back in September. In fact, James’ tweet calling Trump a bum was the most retweeted post by an athlete in 2017.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc0l_mxhdDN/?taken-by=dimemagazine
LeBron James’ decision to debut the one black, one white ‘LeBron 15 Equality PE’ in Trump’s backyard is most certainly intentional, and it delivers a message of what he’d like to see more of in society today. Unfortunately for the rest of us, the ‘LeBron 15 Equality PE’ is a player exclusive, so you won’t get to replicate James’ look anytime soon.
