The Nike equipment manufacturer is honoring two talented athletes, LeBron James and Kylian Mbappé by offering us a package called « The Chosen 2 ». This collaboration celebrates the love for the game and the community of both athletes, as well as their elite performances in their respective fields, basketball and soccer. This capsule is composed of a pair of Mercurial Mbappé studs and a LeBron 18 sneaker, specially revisited for the occasion.
LeBron James and Kylian Mbappé are both local heroes in their own right. These respective natives of Akron, a town in Ohio in the United States, and Bondy, a town in the suburbs of Paris, have never forgotten where they came from. On the contrary, they share a common desire to give back to their community what it has given them and help future generations.
By creating this pack, Nike wishes to participate in this process of recognition and mutual aid. For its launch, the American giant is making a donation to the IBKM foundation of the PSG professional footballer (Inspired By Kylian Mbappé) and to the LeBron James Family Foundation.
The Mercurial Mbappé Chosen 2 soccer shoe combines a Kylian Mbappé x LeBron James pattern. It consists of an upper mixing black and silver with an iridescent finish. A blue « Chosen One » logo adorns the front of the foot and a 3D KM and LBJ logo appears on the tongue label. A special double side Swoosh with a red color addition completes the design. To complete the look, the laces are two-tone, the ankle area is finely woven in black and the insoles feature prints paying tribute to soccer and basketball fields.
The LeBron 18 Chosen 2 sneaker features a black Knitposite 2.0 vamp. The Air System on the silver metallic tongue combines the LBJ and KM logos and a « Chosen One » ambigram. This shoe also features a warm color double Swoosh. It’s subtly affixed on the toe box and on the insole. The heel is embellished with a special LeBron x Kylian black graphic on a purple background. A thick semi-translucent heel reinforcement and an icy sole finalize the design.
About this collaborative capsule, the two top athletes made a statement demonstrating their common vision:
Kylian Mbappé: « LeBron is a unique champion and I have the utmost respect for him both on and off the field. He is a source of inspiration for me. From Akron to Paris, we are both working to move the lines in our society and offer a better world to the younger generation. I really hope that our common message will have a strong social impact and this is just the beginning of our stories. I want to inspire and carry this young generation, to show them that anything is possible. I feel it is our responsibility at this time – to make our voice heard, to lead the way, to be the voice of those who are not heard – and maybe even to be role models for them to look up to ».
LeBron James: « No matter where I go in the world, I will always be just a child of Akron. And I will always use my platform and do everything I can to raise and empower the children that come after me. It’s about creating real and tangible change, and always leaving a better place than the one you found. That is why my Foundation continues to build and add additional layers to our work that immediately address the needs of our children and families. Like Kylian, I will continue to inspire people to do more and be more, because the world needs the best we have right now. We will continue to do everything we can not only to lead, but also to act and empower others every step of the way ».
The Nike pack « The Chosen 2 » will be available on January 9, 2021 at selected retailers and on nike.com.
