Ducks Digest

Lebron James Debuts New Oregon Ducks Nike Sneaker

Though basketball legend Lebron James is known for his ties to the Ohio State Buckeyes, one of the Oregon Ducks' biggest Big Ten Conference rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers star continues to show support for Oregon sneakers.
Ally Osborne|
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) on the court for the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) on the court for the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Though Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is a known fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes with the star gifting the team with unique equipment year after year and receiving an honorary degree from the college in Oct. of 2025, it appears "The King" still possesses a fondness for the Oregon Ducks.

During the Laker's Thursday 104-122 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, James wore a never before seen version of Nike LeBron 23 PE basketball shoes.

Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Detailed view of the basketball sneakers worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Detailed view of the basketball sneakers worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The new LeBron 23 PE shoe James wore, which prominently features a yellow Oregon "O" on the back heel, includes grey Oregon wing print on the top, a carbon fiber LeBron crown outsole, and green aglets with "quack" emblazoned in yellow.

Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Detailed view of the the word “quack” on the laces of the basketball sneakers worn
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Detailed view of the the word “quack” on the laces of the basketball sneakers worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Takai Simpkins Shows Off Another Oregon LeBron 23 PE

James' carbon fiber colorway isn't the only version of the athlete's shoes that went viral on the internet in recent memory.

Duck senior guard Takai Simpkins took to Instagram stories to share a video of a more traditional Oregon colorway of the LeBron 23 PE. These shoes feature a yellow upper half of the shoe with a subtle wing pattern like LeBron's carbon fiber variant, and a shiny green outsole crown with a grey "O" and detailing.

These sneakers, likely akin to James' most recent kicks, are exclusive to the Oregon basketball team.

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Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers g
Jan 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LeBron James' History with the Oregon Ducks

One of basketball's brightest stars has long had a relationship with the Oregon Ducks that seems rooted in his connection to Nike and an unlikely coaching connection.

From 2010-2014 when James played for the Miami Heat, coach Erik Spoelstra, a Portland native, consulted with then Oregon football coach Chip Kelly about his speard offense. In a 2024 interview with J.J. Reddick on "Uninterrupted", James shared that Spoelstra used several elements from Kelly's coaching philosophies to bolster his leadership with the Heat.

"Spo is the reason why we were a better team, and our team was assembled more properly. That summer, he went to Oregon and hung out with Chip Kelly, and learned the spread offense," James said.

"But when he came back to us, he knew that in order for us to reach our potential, for one, I had to be *expletive* ten times better than I was in that previous June Finals," James added, referencing the 2010's Miami loss against the Dallas Mavericks. "But Chris Bosh had to go to the 5, and had to start working on his corner three."

James also famously visited Autzen Stadium with a few of his teammates in 2011, leading to photos Duck fans on the internet use to this day. Not to mention James' son, Bronny James, also was recruited by the Ducks before committing to the USC Trojans in 2022.

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Ally Osborne
ALLY OSBORNE

A reporter for Oregon Ducks on SI, Ally Osborne is a born and raised Oregonian. She graduated from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications in 2021 after interning for the Oregon Sports Network with experience working on live sporting broadcasts for ESPN, FOX Sports, the PAC 12 Network, and Runnerspace. Osborne continued her career in Bend, Oregon as a broadcast reporter in 2021 for Central Oregon Daily News while writing for Oregon Ducks on SI. Since then, Osborne is entering her third season reporting for the publication and is frequently the on-site reporter for home games at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. She is currently the host of lifestyle shows "Everyday Northwest" and "Tower Talk Live" for KOIN 6 News in Portland, Oregon. Osborne also works as a sports reporter for KOIN 6's "Game On" sports department. In her free time, Osborne is an avid graphic designer, making art commissions for athletes across her home state. Osborne's designs have even become tattoos for a few Duck athletes.

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