Low supply and high demand for the Nike LeBron X Celebration Pack sneakers have left many fans kicking mad. The going price leapt from $500 to as much as $4,000 almost as soon as they were released over the weekend.
"It just makes it that much more in demand," said Greg Lewis, owner of sneaker shop Air Traffic Control on Miami Beach.
The limited-edition shoes are inspired by the two-time NBA Champ himself. Sold inside golden boxes, fans are treated to two pairs of shoes: red high tops with lionhead emblems and palm-tree patterned low tops with a glowing, green sole at price of $500.
"With taxes it's $535," pointed out Luis Torres, who is selling his LeBron's.
Torres bought his at Dadeland's House of Hoops, which along with the King James-owned sneaker shop UnKnwn were ripped online by sneaker fans, who claimed store staff were reselling for several thousand dollars. The stores adamantly denied the online accusations.
Lewis, who has owned his sneaker shop for about five years, said the same claims stir up each time a big-name shoes drops. With so many eager Heat and LeBron fans in South Florida, their complaints are being heard more than other spots around the country.
"With LeBron, everything's happened so quickly," Lewis said. "He's winning championships, he's winning MVP's, he's doing it two years in a row. We're in Miami. It's really sought after."
"If the price is right, I always let everything go, cause at the end of the day, it's just shoes," said Torres.
And an investment. He's hoping his love for sneakers will pay off, so he can invest in his wedding to the love of his life.
"[The shoe sale] is for my venue. I'm trying to get $3,200 out of them," Torres said.
Lewis didn't sell the Celebration Pack, but for $2,000, he can make you the proud owner of a rare pair of game-worn Adidas basketball shoes LBJ played in when he was a high schooler.
"Before he signed with Nike, all these brands were trying to get his attention," Lewis said.
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