LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-2009 Game Worn 'St. Vincent St. Mary' Player Exclusive Sneakers | 43 Points | Double-Double

These sneakers were worn by LeBron James on March 17, 2009, when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 97-93 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. James recorded 43 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. "3/17 ORL" has been handwritten in marker on the bottom of both shoes.

The sneakers are a Nike LeBron VI in a white and green colorway, inspired by James' alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. The sneakers have been photomatched by MeiGray.

The 2008-09 season was the finest of LeBron James's career to that point. Averaging 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game across 81 games, James was awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the first time in his career. The Cavaliers finished 66-16, the best record in the NBA and a franchise record. The March 17 victory over the Orlando Magic was part of that dominant run, and James's performance that night, 43 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block against a Magic team anchored by Dwight Howard, was among the most complete of his season.

The Nike LeBron VI, designed by Ken Link and inspired by the iconic Nike Air Force 1 High, was the shoe James wore throughout that campaign. Featuring a Dynamic Fit sockliner, full-length double-stacked Zoom Air cushioning, and a carbon fiber wraparound at the heel, the LeBron VI was built for the demands of a player carrying a franchise on his back night after night.

Going Deeper | LeBron James

The conversation regarding the greatest basketball player of all time may forever continue to be up for debate, but one thing is for sure, LeBron James will always be a part of the discussion. After his 23rd season in the NBA, James' resume puts him on many NBA fans' Mount Rushmore.

LeBron's legacy began in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. As a high school phenom at St. Vincent - St. Mary, LeBron, and his teammates, dubbed the 'Fab Five', led the school to three state championships in four years. During his high school career, LeBron garnered national attention, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school junior in 2002 with the headline 'The Chosen One,' and achieving honors such as the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002, and the McDonald's All-American MVP in 2003.

At 18 years old, LeBron James was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA draft, directly from high school, by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Immediately making an impact upon entering the league, LeBron became the first player in franchise history and the youngest player in NBA history to win the Rookie of the Year award, at 19 years old.

At the time of cataloging, James has career averages of 26.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 7.4 assists per game. James is a 22-time All-Star, 4-time MVP, 4-time Finals MVP, 2004 Rookie of the Year, 13-time All-NBA 1st Team member, 4-time All-NBA Second Team member, 4-time All-NBA Third Team member, 5-time All-Defensive First Team member, and a member of the 75th Anniversary Team. The NBA 75th Anniversary Team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of players, coaches, general managers, and sportswriters who voted on the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History. Only 11 active players were selected for the team, including LeBron James.

In his first seven seasons in the NBA, James led the Cavaliers to 50 or more wins on four separate occasions, including a franchise record 66-win season in 2008-2009, collected two league MVPs, and led the Cavaliers to their first trip to the NBA Finals in 2007. However, LeBron and the Cavaliers would fail to bring a championship to Cleveland that year.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James is recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of professional basketball. James' move from his first NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the Miami Heat in 2010 is considered one of the boldest free-agent decisions in sports history. After winning two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013 for the Miami Heat, James returned to Cleveland. In 2016 he led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Championship, ending the city's 52-year-long professional sports title drought. After his 2020 Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, he became the only player to win the NBA Finals MVP with three different teams. He won his 3rd Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the captain of USA Basketball, where the squad went undefeated.