LeBron James, a basketball superstar and one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, has recently been spotted wearing RTFKT Nike sneakers. This special pair of shoes is only available through the purchase of an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain.
LeBron was seen wearing the limited-edition RTFKT x Nike Air Force 1 Genesis sneakers before the Lakers’ game against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s Western Conference Semifinals. The sneakers feature a unique design in red and black, and the Lakers shared a snapshot of LeBron and teammate Anthony Davis wearing them before the game.
The company behind the virtual fashion platform, RTFKT, took to Twitter to share the exciting news. They tweeted a photo of LeBron wearing the shoes with the caption “Sneakers for a KING 👑” followed by the picture.
Following this post, Steven Vasilev (also known as Zaptio), the co-founder of RTFKT, shared a picture of himself and Nikhil Gopalani (RTFKT’s COO) presenting LeBron with a personalized Clone X NFT avatar. The tweet read, “We got onboard the legend @KingJames to @RTFKT with his 1/1 👑 Clone X W/ @Nikgopalani.”
The RTFKT x Nike collaboration is an iconic collection of sneakers that includes 1,776 pairs, which can only be acquired by purchasing a Genesis NFT and exchanging it for the physical product. Genesis NFTs are hot on secondary marketplaces, with starting prices of 0.4 ETH, or approximately $740 on OpenSea. However, collectors only have until May 8, 2023, to redeem a physical version of the limited-edition footwear.
On the other hand, RTFKT’s Clone X collectibles, which are represented by 20,000 unique 3D avatars designed by the talented NFT artist Takahashi Murakami, are currently in high demand. These avatars have eight different groups, each representing different parts of society and classified according to their “DNA types.” Half of the collectibles are human avatars, and the other half are Clone X types. The floor price for one of these digital assets currently stands at $6,244.68, according to CoinGecko.
Moreover, Nike recently launched its digital sneakers and apparel platform on Polygon, called Swoosh. The ecosystem has already attracted more than 33,000 users and is set to mint “Our Force 1” NFT-based sneakers in a few days.
NFTs have become increasingly popular, as they give collectors ownership of unique digital assets, including art, music, and fashion collectibles. They have allowed creators to monetize their work in ways that were not previously possible, and companies like RTFKT and Nike are exploring new ways to capitalize on this trend.
In conclusion, the intersection between sports, fashion, and NFTs has created a unique opportunity for collectors and fans alike. LeBron James’ recent fashion statement showcases this emerging trend and demonstrates the potential for creativity and innovation in the world of NFTs. As more athletes and companies join the NFT bandwagon, we can expect to see more exciting collaborations and unique digital assets in the future.
