Nike Honors Bronny James With Heartfelt New Shoes

The Lakers guard debuted a special player-exclusive sneaker inspired by his recovery from a cardiac event.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:25pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting Bronny James' basketball movements and the textured, patterned upper of his new Nike LeBron IX Witness PER sneaker, rendered in a vibrant color palette.A cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy and premium details of Bronny James' new signature Nike sneaker, honoring his inspiring journey back to the court.Los Angeles Today

Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, recently debuted a new player-exclusive Nike LeBron IX Witness PER sneaker. The shoe is inspired by Bronny's recovery from a cardiac event that sidelined him before his freshman season at USC. The sneaker features premium materials, a heartfelt message, and Bronny's signature branding.

Why it matters

Bronny James' story of overcoming a major health scare to continue his basketball career has resonated with fans. Nike's decision to honor him with a special player-exclusive shoe highlights his growing profile and the continued success of the budget-friendly LeBron Witness line.

The details

The Nike LeBron IX Witness PER features a tan upper with a digital pattern and textured materials. It includes the LeBron Witness line logo on the tongues, reverse Nike Swoosh logos on the lateral sides, and Bronny's name and signature logo. While no public release details have been announced, the shoe offers premium upgrades over the standard LeBron Witness 9 model.

  • Bronny James debuted the shoes during the Lakers' 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2026.
  • Bronny James suffered cardiac arrest and was hospitalized on July 24, 2023, before making a recovery and joining the USC Trojans.
  • Nike released an earlier pink and black colorway of the LeBron Witness 9 earlier this year, which is still available online.

The players

Bronny James

The son of NBA superstar LeBron James, Bronny is a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who recently debuted a new player-exclusive Nike sneaker inspired by his recovery from a cardiac event.

LeBron James

The face of the Nike LeBron signature line, LeBron James is Bronny's father and a superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nike

The athletic apparel and footwear company that created the new Nike LeBron IX Witness PER sneaker to honor Bronny James' recovery and journey.

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What’s next

The Lakers are a lock for the Western Conference Playoffs, so fans can expect more heat from Nike and the James family. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all your footwear news from the sports world and beyond.

The takeaway

Bronny James' inspiring story of overcoming a major health scare to continue his basketball career has resonated with fans, and Nike's decision to honor him with a special player-exclusive shoe highlights his growing profile and the continued success of the budget-friendly LeBron Witness line.