Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and The One Who Chose” Releases October 2025
The Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and the One Who Chose” releases October 23, 2025, commemorating the historic moment... The post Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and The One Who Chose” Releases October 2025 appeared first on .
The Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and the One Who Chose” releases October 23, 2025, commemorating the historic moment when LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. This debut colorway of the LeBron 23 features a mismatched design with metallic gold for LeBron’s “Chosen” version and deep purple for Bronny’s “The One Who Chose” pair. The retail price is $210.
Quick Hits (Everything You Need)
Sneaker: Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and the One Who Chose”
Color: Black/Metallic Gold-Vivid Purple
Release Date: October 23, 2025
Style Code: IF0694-001
Price: $210
Where to Buy: Nike.com and FootLocker.com
More Info: Nike Release Dates
Nike is launching the LeBron 23 with a colorway that commemorates October 22, 2024, when LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. The “The Chosen One and the One Who Chose” colorway releases October 23, 2025, through Nike.com and select retailers, marking the debut of LeBron’s 23rd signature shoe with a family story rather than a championship or career milestone.
Why This Moment Deserves Its Own Colorway
The October 22, 2024, game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves made basketball history when LeBron and Bronny checked into the game together during the second quarter. No other father and son had ever shared the court in an NBA game, making this a singular moment in professional sports. LeBron had publicly stated his desire to play with his son before retiring, and the Lakers drafting Bronny with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft made it possible.
Nike chose this moment for the first LeBron 23 story because it represents something beyond basketball statistics or championships. LeBron’s career has been defined by individual achievement and team success, but playing with Bronny adds a generational component that no other athlete in Nike’s roster can claim. Michael Jordan never played professional basketball with his sons.
Mismatched Design and Family Connection
The colorway comes as a mismatched set. LeBron’s version uses metallic gold with “Chosen” embroidered on the heel, referencing the Sports Illustrated cover from 2002 that called high school LeBron “The Chosen One.” Bronny’s pair uses deep purple with “The One Who Chose” embroidered on the heel, a play on the idea that Bronny chose to follow his father’s path into professional basketball despite the intense scrutiny and pressure that comes with being LeBron’s son.
Both shoes share black woven uppers and translucent icy soles. The woven material likely uses Nike’s Flyweave or a similar engineered mesh construction that provides structure while reducing weight. Woven uppers have been standard on LeBron signatures since the LeBron 15 in 2017, offering a balance between lockdown support and breathability that works for LeBron’s power-forward playing style.
Monogrammed crowns appear on both pairs and interlock when placed together, creating a visual representation of the father-son connection. This interlocking detail matters because it makes the mismatched design intentional rather than just two different colorways. Buyers who want the complete story need both versions, which creates a collectible set rather than individual shoes.
Lakers Colors and Championship References
The metallic gold and deep purple color scheme references the Los Angeles Lakers’ purple and gold uniforms. LeBron has won two championships with the Lakers, in 2020 and potentially more by the time this shoe releases. Gold in Lakers context represents the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, making the color choice a nod to both team identity and winning.
Deep purple has been the Lakers’ primary color since the team moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960. The specific shade used on Bronny’s pair appears darker than the Lakers’ standard, creating visual separation between the two shoes while maintaining the team connection. The black woven upper provides a neutral base that lets the gold and purple accents stand out without overwhelming the design.
The Significance of “Chosen” vs “The One Who Chose”
The heel embroidery creates a narrative contrast between LeBron’s path and Bronny’s choice. LeBron didn’t choose to be called “The Chosen One” at age 17. Sports Illustrated, Nike, and the basketball world placed that label on him based on his talent and potential before he played a single NBA game. The pressure and expectations came from external forces, making LeBron’s success a story of meeting impossibly high standards set by others.
Bronny’s “The One Who Chose” represents agency and decision-making in a different context. He chose to pursue professional basketball knowing he would be compared to one of the greatest players in NBA history. He chose to enter the draft knowing teams might select him partly because of his father. He chose to handle the criticism and attention that comes with being LeBron’s son. The embroidery acknowledges that Bronny’s path involves choices that LeBron never had to make.
More LeBron 23s
Release Date, Availability, and Price
The Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and the One Who Chose” releases October 23, 2025, through Nike.com and Foot Locker. The retail price is $210. Additional photos can be seen below for a detailed look.
The October 23, 2025, release date falls one day after the one-year anniversary of LeBron and Bronny’s first game together. This timing creates a direct connection between the commemorated moment and the shoe’s availability, making the release date part of the story rather than just a random drop on Nike’s calendar.
Bottom Line
I think this is one of the smarter storytelling moves Nike has made with a LeBron signature in years. The father-son angle feels genuine in a way that another championship or milestone colorway wouldn’t. After 22 signature shoes, most LeBron releases blend together with similar patterns of team colors and generic “King” branding. This colorway has a specific date and family story that actually separates it from the rest of the line.
What I appreciate is how the mismatched design serves the narrative instead of just following trends. The interlocking crowns reward people who buy both pairs without making individual shoes feel incomplete. The “Chosen” versus “The One Who Chose” embroidery is clever without being heavy-handed, acknowledging different pressures without overdramatizing Bronny’s situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Commemorative colorways typically fall between standard general releases and limited collaborations in terms of availability. They’re not as rare as Travis Scott or Off-White collabs, but they’re more limited than basic team colorways.
The release includes both Nike.com and Foot Locker, with it appearing to be only available online.
The post Nike LeBron 23 “The Chosen One and The One Who Chose” Releases October 2025 appeared first on .
