‘HURT FEELINGS’

After Golden State took a commanding 3-1 lead against Cleveland in the 2016 NBA Finals, one of the Warriors players suggested that LeBron had his "feelings hurt" by on-court trash talk. The insult unleashed a beast. Over the next three games, LeBron averaged 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 9.7 assists as the Cavaliers pulled off the greatest comeback in Finals history. In the closing minutes of Game 7, he seemingly teleported across the court to swat a crucial Golden State layup off the backboard. In the war of words, "Blocked by James!" went down as the final statement.

From a kid from Akron to a Forever King, the journey spans two decades of redefining greatness on the hardwood.

23 colorways. 23 stories. Only one crown.

The LeBron XXIII Elite ‘Hurt Feelings’ brings those 3-1 comeback memories to life with a black upper sitting atop a blue and yellow midsole, hues that represent the jerseys both teams wore during those finals. A hand graphic on the shoe is a not-so-subtle nod to the King’s history defining chase down block in the waning minutes of Game 7. The graphic pattern on the upper is reminiscent of shattered glass — representing the broken glass ceilings LeBron and his Cavs were able to pull off when they became the only team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals and win a ring. So much for turning the other cheek.