Both basketball and football fans on social media were perplexed in tandem when two of the biggest names in world sport swapped their profile pictures with each other on Instagram.
While Liverpool fans might choose to interpret it as some form of a subtle hint to a potential transfer because of their ties with Nike and the NBA legend’s minority stake at the club, the real reason is much simpler.
LeBron James and Kylian Mbappe have joined forces, as Mbappe gets his own colourway of NBA champion LeBron James’ current signature shoe which is to be released soon.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s take on the Nike LeBron 18 appears to wear a color scheme that pays homage to his native country of France with the bold blue and red accents throughout the Knitposite 2.0 upper reminiscent of the French flag.
Additional details include the footballer’s “KM” branding stamped on the tongue, two mini Swoosh logos embroidered on the toe, as well as an iridescent heel counter and outsole.
The sole consists of impressions of the LeBron brand name, and an artistic illustration of a football field and a basketball court on two sides of the same playing surface.
.@KingJames and @KMbappe swap profile pictures ahead of their Nike LeBron 18 collab 🤝 pic.twitter.com/9EeyY4J96a
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) January 5, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is widely considered to be in the conversation regarding the greatest basketball players of all time.
While PSG’s Kylian Mbappé is already a World Cup winner with his best years ahead of him. The Frenchman is well on his way to achieve similar success at the highest level of his respective sport: already having won the greatest prize there is in football as a 20 year old.
The collaboration between two of the biggest names in world sport right now is certain to grab a lot of eyeballs with its release, much like the subtle promotional routine on Instagram.
Check out the photos of the soon to be released shoe below –
