How I Got My Hands on the LeBron 3s
Alright, so I’ve heard all this chatter online about LeBron’s older kicks, especially these LeBron 3s. People kept saying how cool they looked and how players still rocked them. Frankly, I was curious. Were they actually good on the court or just nostalgia? I needed to know.
First thing, tracking down a pair that wasn’t beat up or costing crazy money. Took me a good while scouring online, checking sizes, prices. Finally snagged a pair that looked solid. Honestly, when they arrived, the look is kinda wild – big, bulky, got that big lion logo on the side. Feels heavy in the hand, way heavier than what I usually play in.
First Time Tying Them Up
Slid my foot in. Whoa. Okay, immediate thoughts? They feel super snug. Like, real tight around the foot. Almost felt restrictive at first. Lacing them up felt different too. The eyelets are kinda chunky. Took some fiddling to get the laces how I wanted, pulling it tight through those loops. Felt solid once they were tied, like my foot wasn’t going anywhere.
The Break-In Period Hurt… Literally
Couldn’t wait to hoop in them, right? Big mistake. Took them straight to a pickup game. Bigger mistake. Man, that first session? Pure agony. The collar rubbed my ankle raw. Blisters started forming almost instantly. The shoes themselves felt so dang stiff. Felt like playing in bricks. Every cut, every jump just hurt. I almost took them off and went home early. Honestly, I was questioning why anyone liked these things.
- Stiffness: No give, just straight up hard plastic feel.
- Rub Points: That high collar ate up my ankles.
- Weight: Definitely felt heavier than modern shoes.
Sticking With It: The Glove Feeling
I don’t quit easy. So I kept wearing them. Around the house. Running errands. Short shooting sessions. Slowly, oh so slowly, they started to break in. That plastic upper started to soften up a bit near the toe. The padding inside molded closer to my foot shape. And that’s when it started to click.
After a couple weeks of this grind, took them back for another run. Huge difference. They weren’t those stiff bricks anymore.
- Lockdown: That tightness I felt at first? It became incredible lockdown. My foot felt glued to the footbed. Seriously, zero sliding around.
- Stability: That bulk felt totally different. Now it felt stable, especially cutting side-to-side. Didn’t feel tippy at all.
- Traction: The herringbone pattern? Once broken in? It gripped the court like crazy. Dusty floors were way less scary.
- Cushion: Okay, it’s not modern soft bounce. It’s old-school. But the Zoom Air in the heel and forefoot? Yeah, you feel it. Impact protection became really good. Comfortable for longer sessions.
Why Players (Including Me) End Up Loving Them
So yeah, out the box? Honestly, kinda brutal. I get why people get discouraged. But pushing through that, letting the materials adapt? Makes you realize the love isn’t fake.
Players dig them because:
- The lockdown and stability are absolutely top tier once broken in. You feel secure.
- The traction gets awesome.
- The cushion, while firm-ish, gives great impact protection you can play on for hours.
- They last forever. Seriously, the materials are tanks.
- They have that classic, bold look.
Would I recommend them? If you got patience to break them in and don’t mind some weight? Yeah, they earn the hype. They are legit court beasts. But go easy that first week! It’s a battle you gotta win to find the love.
