Zoom Generation: Nike Basketball unveils LeBron James retro line

When LeBron James showed up to Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day in a pair of never-seen-before LeBron IIIs, smoke began to billow from the rumor mill of a James-based retro line from Nike Basketball. In an interview that took place shortly after James inked his lifetime deal with the apparel company, James said that there were plans to release a James-based line, but it simply wasn’t the right time. Fast forward to Thursday night, however, and James took to his UNINTERRUPTED video company to say that it was, in fact, “retro time.”

http://twitter.com/uninterrupted/status/819746692987699200

In 2003, James took to the floor against the Sacramento Kings in the Air Zoom Generation I, or “AZG” for short. In the video above, as the Cavaliers get set to take on the Sacramento Kings once again, James described the importance of the AZG not just as a basketball player, but as a symbol of what his ascension represented.

“I’m just thinking back to my first game ever… Fourteen years ago… It’s crazy how time flies,” says James. “As a kid from Akron, Ohio, with a huge dream to play the game that he loved… For me to walk out on that floor, it was a dream come true.

It’s time. I think the moment is right. It think it’s perfect timing.”

Earlier in the day, on Instagram, James stated that the AZG was “the shoe for every single person with a dream and the passion… no matter what the situation is.” And in what appears to be just a few days, fans of James and the AZG will get a chance to relive history.

The box in the video appears to be that of a Nike Sportswear, meaning that James may not be getting the full-on Jordan treatment just yet. While rumored to release “later this month”, James references “very, very soon” and “in the next day or so” in the video above. It’s here where we mention that this Saturday is January 14, or 1/14, and that James is also set to release the his 14th edition of his signature line, the LeBron 14, which was worn on Christmas Day.

Many images have been circulating that feature the “11-5-2003” inscription that mimics James’ “grail” pair of AZGs, referenced in this video with GQ’s Will Welch and Mark Anthony Green. Sole Collector reports that the shoes will be releasing specifically in Cleveland, while J23App reports a retail price of $175.

While the details remain fuzzy, one thing is for certain: It’s retro time.