Nike: LeBron 12s delayed due to 'small cosmetic issue'
The new line of LeBron 12s will not launch on Oct. 11, as originally scheduled.
The new LeBron 12 line of shoes will not be released on October 11. Nike announced the delay on Wednesday.
Product quality is a priority for Nike. Due to a small cosmetic issue with some of the LEBRON 12 shoes we have delayed the initial retail launch that was scheduled for China on October 1, and the global launch that was scheduled for October 11. We will communicate an update on the retail date as soon as possible.
LeBron James and Nike unveiled the shoes earlier this month at an event in Beaverton, Ore. It is unclear exactly what the "small cosmetic issue" is.
Last year, James had problems with his signature shoe and sometimes switched shoes during games. That led to Nike speeding up its timeline to design a new shoe.
"That's the great part about my partnership with Nike," James said at the LeBron 12 unveiling, via Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. "[If something isn't right], we're going to continue to go back to the lab to figure it out. I was able to wear the shoe some games, some games I wore the 'Soldier' shoe. [The issues with the LeBron 11] hurt both of us. We loved the shoe so much, the 11, but it wasn't performing how we wanted, the way that Nike and myself are capable of performing. We started to get on this [12 model] right away. ... It's given me great responses."
