The Road To 20,000: Lebron James' Sneakers From His Best Performances

Milestones.

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Image via Complex Original
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Last night LeBron James recorded his 20,000th point, becoming the youngest player — he turned 28 on December 30th — in NBA history to do so. To honor James' accomplishment, which was accompanied by his dishing his 5,000th career assist, we decided to take a look back at 20 of his greatest moments and the sneakers he wore along the way. Check out The Road To 20,000: Lebron James' Sneakers From His Best Performances.

Nike Zoom Generation

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Nike Air Zoom Generation "White/Black/Red"

His first career game and LeBron leads his team in points, assists, and steals. Now that's starting out right.

Zoom Generation

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Nike Air Zoom Generation "White/Red"

Milestone: Youngest player to score 40 points in a game, vs. Nets (3/27/2004)
Stat Line: 41 points, 13 assists , 6 rebounds

King James starts to rack up the "youngest to..." accomplishments, setting the tone for his future.

Zoom LeBron II

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Nike Zoom LeBron II "Hardwood Classic" PE

Sneaker created specifically for throwbacks — youngest to have a triple-double in a game. Are you witnessing this?

Zoom LeBron II Birthday

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Nike Zoom LeBron II "Birthday"

A few months after his birthday, but LeBron got his career-high in them — worth noting that Kobe got his 81 against the Raptors too. 

LeBron 3 All-Star

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Nike Zoom LeBron III "All-Star" 

First All-Star MVP award with more to come, no doubt.

Nike Zoom 20-5-5

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Nike Zoom 20-5-5

LeBron silences the naysayers with a game winner in OT. Triple-double on top of that, just in case you didn't notice.

Zoom 20-5-5

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Nike Zoom 20-5-5

Game-winner in heated series against Wizards, huge stat line. 

Zoom Soldier I

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Nike Zoom Soldier I 

Milestone: One-Man Team vs. Pistons in the Playoffs (5/31/2007)
Stat Line: 48 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists 

Scored Cleveland's final 25 points and 29 of its last 30 in Game Five. King.

LeBron 5 All-Star

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Nike Zoom LeBron V "All-Star"

Second All-Star MVP, trophy case needs expansion.

LeBron 5 Black

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Nike Zoom LeBron V "Black/White/Crimson"

The 23-year-old King becomes the youngest person to reach 10,000, beating out Kobe who took a year longer. 

Zoom LeBron VI

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Nike Zoom LeBron VI "United We Rise" Olympic PE

First gold medal and the USA Basketball team gets redemption.

LeBron VI Yankees

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Nike Zoom LeBron VI "NY Yankees"

Milestone: Epic performance at MSG, vs. Knicks (2/4/2009)
Stat Line: 52 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds

He had the triple-double, and the next day they took one rebound from him. The sneaker he wore commemorated an earlier performance at MSG (3/5/08) when he had a 50-10-8 stat line. This performance meant him and MJ were the only players to have multiple 50 point games at MSG. Nice company.

Zoom Soldier III

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Nike Zoom Soldier III 

So 35 on the night, capped off by a catch-and-shoot game-winning three over two defenders at the buzzer. That's called making the most of an inbounds play.

LeBron 7 PS Away

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Nike LeBron VII PS "Away"

Milestone: Triple-double vs. Bulls in the Playoffs (4/25/2010)
Stat Line: 37 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists  

Triple-double in a playoff game, six three-pointers. The King's game is versatile.

Nike LeBron 8 All-Star

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Nike Air Max LeBron 8 "All-Star"

First to do it since Mike in '97 — still didn't win MVP. Damn you, Kobe. And you're welcome.

LeBron 9 Elite Away

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Nike LeBron 9 Elite "Away"

Milestone: 40 and 18 vs. Pacers in the Playoffs (5/20/2012)
Stat Line: 40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists  

Just missed a triple-double in Game Four to keep Miami alive after doubts from being down 1-2. D Wade added 38.

LeBron 9 Elite

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Nike LeBron 9 Elite PE 

Milestone: 45 and 15 vs. Celtics in the Playoffs (6/7/2012)
Stat Line: 45 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 73% shooting

Game Six — crazy stat line (Wilt only other with 45-5-5) and redemption against Boston. KG is still salty. What'd that taste like, Kevin?

LeBron 9 Elite Home

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Nike LeBron 9 Elite "Home"

Milestone: First Championship, Finals Triple-Double, Finals MVP, vs. Thunder (6/21/2012)
Stat Line: 26 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds 

A triple-double to finally get the hardware he'd been chasing. Well, that's one.

LeBron X Olympic

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Nike LeBron X "Olympic"

LeBron leads Team USA to a gold medal while debuting the LeBron X on court.

LeBron X PE

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Nike LeBron X PE

Youngest player to reach 20,000 points and the 13th player in NBA history to hit 20,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists. Ain't nothin' but King shit.