Nike, LeBron James Celebrate Launch of Zoom LeBron V and New Basketball Campaign

'Be Better Than Me' 


BEAVERTON, Ore., Oct. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nike and LeBron James kick off the start of the new season with LeBron's fifth signature shoe, the Zoom LeBron V, and an inspiring new campaign in which LeBron challenges himself and the next generation of basketball players to keep working to be as good as they can be.

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Launching the Zoom LeBron V with a provocative and inspirational message, LeBron says in the new campaign that he's still improving his game, and he wants to encourage young basketball players to not just aspire to be him, but to be better than him.  "I am LeBron James," he says at the end of the TV spot. "You don't want to be me. You want to be better than me."

The spot, which was produced by Nike in cooperation with advertising agency Wieden & Kennedy, is narrated by LeBron and features basketball highlights from his high school and NBA career.  Throughout the ad, LeBron acknowledges that he's driven by the fact that he still has work to do and more challenges to face in order to be as good as he can be.

The commercial will be executed in 30-second and 60-second versions and will air on national networks as well as during NBA televised games on TNT, ESPN, ABC and Fox Sports Net. The spots will also appear on key digital sites and a print execution will appear in national sport publications as well as on billboards in Cleveland and New York City.

The Zoom LeBron V is engineered specifically for LeBron's game, and is available in the U.S. beginning November 15. The Zoom LeBron V provides ultimate lightweight protection and features full length Zoom Air cushioning and double stacked Zoom Air heel cushioning for optimum response. In addition to providing superior cushioning, the shoe has many design features that tie directly to LeBron such as a map of his hometown Akron, Ohio, on the inside of the tongue; a milk crate pattern on the ankle strap that is reminiscent of the "basket" LeBron used in his youth; and words from his inspired message "FAMILY", "PASSION" and "FEARLESS" stitched on the inside of the ankle strap.

Available for a suggested retail price of $140, the Zoom LeBron V will be sold in white, midnight navy-metallic gold. A second colorway of black-varsity crimson will be available on December 13.

In addition to unveiling a new commercial and the launch of the Zoom LeBron V, Nike will unveil a 110-foot high by 212-foot wide billboard in Cleveland featuring James looking skyward, with his arms outstretched and the tag line "We Are All Witnesses."  The new LeBron billboard will be unveiled near Quicken Loans arena on October 31st just hours before LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers take to the court to open the new NBA season.  The new billboard replaces a previous LeBron James billboard by Nike which captured LeBron delivering one of his signature dunks taken during his rookie season.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan Holdings Incorporated, a leading designer and marketer of luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and NIKE Bauer Hockey Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment. 

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DATASOURCE: NIKE, Inc.



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