LeBron James has long used his fame and resources to fight racial injustice and inequality, donating millions of his career earnings to the cause and using his voice to help combat the many injustices Black Americans are faced with every day. Next to being a father, husband, and basketball player, it’s an important part of LeBron’s identity and a defining chapter of his life and career.
The latest Nike LeBron 23 colorway takes inspiration from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968. Black businessman Walter Bailey purchased the motel in 1945 and made it a haven for Black travelers at a time when Jim Crow restrictions offered limited lodging options. The Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation purchased the site in 1984, and it later became the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991. In 2016, LeBron James donated $2.5 million to support the museum, specifically funding an exhibit in honor of Muhammad Ali, who had passed earlier that year.
The LeBron 23 “Honor The King” features an all-teal colorway inspired by the Lorraine Motel’s iconic doors and signage. The upper features a unique synthetic pattern, while the heel carries an “EQUALITY” graphic. A gold Swoosh with blue outlining lands on the lateral side, matched by more gold hits on the tongue branding and medial crown motif. Blue and teal laces are included, as is a sticker sheet with the grade school version.
The Nike LeBron 23 “Honor The King” releases January 20th, 2026 in adult and grade school sizes, priced at $210 for adults. See official images of the GS version below if you’re considering copping.
