BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug 07, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today introduced the Air Max LeBron VII, the latest and most innovative shoe in LeBron James' signature line, at a global media summit in Akron, Ohio featuring James and performance footwear designer Jason Petrie.

The Air Max LeBron VII is designed to deliver maximum comfort and stability. It features an innovative, basketball-specific Max Air unit, a cushioning first for the company, and a Flywire engineered upper using higher tensile-strength cable than in previous performance basketball shoes.

"The new LeBron VII takes my signature line to a new level of innovation," said LeBron James. "As the demands of my game evolve and increase, Nike consistently designs and develops shoes helping drive my on-court success."

The Air Max LeBron VII will be available globally beginning October 24, with a suggested retail price of $160 USD.

"When designing the Air Max LeBron VII, we envisioned a shoe that was both strong and comfortable," said Jason Petrie, Nike Footwear Designer. "We delivered a shoe that is a perfect combination of superior performance and luxurious style, embodying LeBron himself."

Comfort Revolution

Nike's first basketball-specific Max Air 360 unit is designed and engineered for the multi-directional movements of the modern basketball player. This basketball-specific Air-Sole unit contains 80 percent more air than the previous full-length unit for ultimate comfort. The Max Air 360 unit is strategically contoured with a thinner forefoot and deeper heel placing cushioning where it is needed most.

Moving upward from the court floor, the insole and upper of the shoe match the mid-sole's innovation. The seamless integrated inner-sleeve not only makes for a comfortable ride with no irritation, but also provides the lockdown support basketball players covet. Nike's Flywire technology, first introduced in the highly successful Nike Hyperdunk shoe, provides support without adding unnecessary weight by integrating tensile fibers with a minimal use of materials. Its crisscross lineage not only provides basketball specific stability, but also creates a diamond pattern that LeBron has asked be integrated into his signature footwear and apparel lines each year.

Heritage

The Air Max LeBron VII pays homage to the sport of basketball and reflects the personality of LeBron. On the outsole, five flex grooves represent the five players on the court while 23 stripes in the midsection represent LeBron's number. The outsole also features a 3D decoder key which, when the shoe is rotated, displays LeBron's credos - Passion, Fearless, Tradition, Community, Family, Loyalty - and other key call outs from LeBron's life.

Additionally, the seven Flywire strands on the tongue of the shoe represents the Air Max LeBron VII as the seventh shoe in the signature series. This same call-out is repeated with the V-shaped metal eyelets on the top of the shoe and Roman numeral II embossed directly underneath it.

Craftsmanship

The Air Max LeBron VII is constructed with a full-grain leather upper and patent leather throughout, giving it a plush feel and luxurious aesthetic. The goal was to bring the highest quality detailing to LeBron's latest shoe, and this is evident throughout due to its superior design. The Air Max LeBron VII was made for the basketball player who is looking for cushioning and strength with a sense of style.

For additional information please visit www.nikebasketball.com (consumers) or www.nikemedia.com (journalists).

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan Holdings Incorporated, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6024618&lang=en

SOURCE: NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc.
New York Media Relations, 212-367-4447