A Grizzlies star is begrudgingly wearing LeBron James' signature Nikes because they're best for his feet
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- Grizzlies star Desmond Bane is wearing LeBron James-branded Nike shoes while playing James and the Lakers in the playoffs.
- Bane and the Grizzlies avoid wearing other players' signature shoes when they're playing them.
- Bane is begrudgingly wearing them because he found they help support his injured big toe.
Memphis Grizzlies star guard Desmond Bane is temporarily putting comfort ahead of pride.
According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Bane found that LeBron James' Nike "LeBron XX" sneakers help support his right big toe, which he injured in November. Bane is wearing the shoes, even during the team's first-round playoff series against James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to MacMahon, the Grizzlies have an unwritten team rule that they don't wear the signature shoes of their opponents.
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Bane, a Nike athlete, had to find a pair of Nikes to wear, but he found that Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving's and LA Clippers star Paul George's sneakers didn't quite give him the support he needed.
He turned to the LeBron XXs, the 20th edition of James' signature shoe line with Nike.
Bane told MacMahon that he was doing it begrudgingly.
"Nah. I mean, nah, I [wasn't]," Bane told MacMahon when asked if he was happy to be wearing them.
"But you know, I got to leave my pride to the side and do what's best for my body and my career."
Bane and James also have somewhat of a contentious history, with the two players exchanging trash-talk and small shoves during a January 2022 meeting. At one point, James could be heard loudly telling Bane, "That's your last time disrespecting me."
This year's first-round series is only likely to fuel what could be considered a budding rivalry between the two teams.
However, for now, both parties seem to have put aside their grievances. MacMahon reported that before Game 1 on Sunday, James approached Bane and took note of Bane's shoes, asking if he needed some more. Bane said he thought the offer was genuine, rather than taunting from James.
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James told ESPN that he thought it was "super dope" to see Bane wearing his sneakers and that he would gladly send more.
The Lakers lead the Grizzlies in the series, 1-0.