LeBron James and Nike's signature line was red-hot in the early 2010s — an era widely regarded as the second "golden age" of Nike Basketball — and one of the most memorable styles was the LeBron 8 "HWC" (short for "Hardwood Classic"). Originally a PE created exclusively for the King, the "HWC" is now set for its first retail release.
The LeBron 8 was LBJ's first signature silhouette to debut after he'd left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Although many success-starved New York Knicks fans may have taken the blue and orange "HWC" colorway to mean LeBron had interest in the Big Apple, it was in fact a callout to the Cavs' Hardwood Classic jerseys. Uppers are dressed almost entirely in blue, with paneling split between smooth blue suede and recessed synthetic material with a carbon fiber pattern. This entire assemblage is bolstered with Flywire, and a white Swoosh trimmed with orange creeps onto the heel.
Heels feature an extended tab, which sits above an orange panel with LeBron's signature and a Swoosh done up in blue. The medial side is almost entirely devoid of branding save for a small debossed Swoosh on the toebox. Throats are made of orange mesh, while tongues boast a debossed patent leather lion graphic on the outside and a "Designed and Engineered to the Exact Specifications of Mr. LeBron James" tag on the inside. Down below, white EVA foam midsoles work with a full-length orange Air Max unit speckled in blue for comfort. Translucent orange outsoles complete the look.
At the time of writing, an official release date for the Nike LeBron 8 "HWC" has yet to be announced. However, early speculation has its release earmarked for a #LeBronWatch drop on April 23.
For more Nike Hoops news, check out official images of the Air More Uptempo "Bulls."
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