Sneaker culture is weird. One minute we're obsessing over "clean" triple-white colorways, and the next, we're drooling over a shoe that looks like a literal explosion in a crayon factory. Enter the What LeBron 11.
If you weren't around in 2014, you missed a strange time in basketball footwear. The LeBron 11 was already a polarizing silhouette. It looked like something Iron Man would wear to a pickup game—all sharp angles, Hyperposite plating, and a futuristic vibe that felt miles away from the leather shoes of the past. But the "What The" version? That was a different beast entirely. It didn't just push the envelope; it shredded it and turned it into confetti.
The Story Behind the What LeBron 11
Basically, Nike's "What The" concept started with SB Dunks back in 2007. The idea was simple: take every iconic colorway from a line's history and mash them into one pair. By the time it hit the LeBron 11, the hype was at a fever pitch.
This wasn't just a random assortment of colors. It was a 28-element history lesson. We're talking about a pair of shoes where the left and right don't match—at all. You've got the tongue detailing from the LeBron VII, the Akron map from the LeBron V, and fragments of the "Fruity Pebbles" IV. It was a visual autobiography of LeBron’s first decade with Nike.
Honestly, it’s a lot to take in. One foot sports a vibrant "Black Lava" and "Silver Ice," while the other leans into "Galaxy Blue." If you’re the kind of person who likes to blend in, these were your worst nightmare. But for collectors? They were the Holy Grail.
💡 You might also like: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Why LeBron Barely Wore Them
Here’s the thing that most people forget: LeBron James himself had a love-hate relationship with the 11.
While the What LeBron 11 was selling out at a retail price of $250, the King was often spotted wearing the previous year's model, the LeBron 10, or the Soldier 7. Why? Fit issues. The Hyperposite construction was incredibly stiff. For most of us, it was fine. For a 250-pound freight train of a human who moves like a point guard, it was a problem.
The toebox was notorious for being tight. There’s a famous story about Nike having to "redefine" the shoe to fit his foot because his toes were essentially rebelling against the narrow mold. Even with the Lunarlon and Zoom Air cushioning—which, by the way, felt amazing—the containment was just too restrictive for the man himself.
Design Chaos That Actually Works
You’d think putting 20 different graphics on one shoe would look like a disaster. Somehow, it works.
📖 Related: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
- The "Big Bang" Influence: You see those bold orange support bars? That's a direct nod to the LeBron 9 "Big Bang" from the 2012 All-Star Game.
- The Graffiti Print: There’s a section that echoes the LeBron 4 "Graffiti," a cult classic that remains one of the most expensive LeBrons on the secondary market.
- The Lace Locks: They even gave you different lion lace locks—one silver and one with a holographic finish.
The shoe used a drop-in midsole. It was a thick chunk of Lunarlon foam with a full-length Zoom Air unit embedded inside. It made the shoe feel lower to the ground than the bulky LeBron 10, but it also meant if the fit wasn't perfect, you’d feel every pinch.
The Legacy in 2026
Fast forward to today. The sneaker market has cooled off significantly compared to the 2020 boom, but the What LeBron 11 still holds its own. You can find pre-owned pairs on eBay or StockX anywhere from $100 to $250 depending on the condition. If you want a deadstock (brand new) pair, you’re likely looking at $300 to $450.
It’s an investment piece, sure. But it’s also a reminder of an era where Nike Basketball wasn't afraid to be loud. Nowadays, signature shoes feel a bit... safe? The 11 was anything but safe. It was aggressive. It was "loud." It was basically the footwear equivalent of a LeBron James chase-down block.
What You Should Know Before Buying
If you're hunting for a pair of these today, keep a few things in mind. First, the 11s run small. If you have wide feet, you’ll probably want to go up half a size, or your pinky toe will pay the price.
👉 See also: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Second, check the outsoles. The "What The" version has a lot of translucent and multicolored rubber. Over time, that stuff can oxidize and turn yellow or lose its grip. If you’re planning to actually play in them, make sure the rubber is still "grippy."
Lastly, watch out for fakes. Because this was such a complex design, the "rep" market went crazy on these back in the day. Look for the crispness of the printing. On the real deal, the graphics are sharp. On the knockoffs, they often look a bit blurry or "bleeding" into other sections.
The What LeBron 11 remains a masterpiece of storytelling. It shouldn't work. It’s too busy, too bright, and too asymmetrical. Yet, every time you see a pair on the street, you have to look. You can't help it. That's the power of the "What The" legacy—it forces you to acknowledge the history of the greatest player of this generation, one chaotic panel at a time.
To truly appreciate these, you have to look past the neon. Look at the textures. Feel the weight of the Hyperposite. It’s a snapshot of 2014 basketball culture, frozen in plastic and foam.
If you're looking to start a LeBron collection, skip the boring colorways. Go for the one that tells the whole story. Just make sure you've got the confidence to pull off two different colored shoes at the same time.
Check the production date on the inner tag; pairs from the original 2014 run are now over a decade old, so be mindful of the glue integrity if you plan on wearing them frequently. For display purposes, they remain one of the most striking visual pieces Nike has ever produced.