In the early 2000s, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated was the ultimate status symbol for any athlete. It wasn't just that LeBron received the honour as a 17-year-old in high school—his 18 February 2002 cover was accompanied by a headline that created absurd expectations but proved shockingly prophetic. Next to a photo of LeBron wearing his University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish jersey was the phrase that would forever define him: The Chosen One. For millions of readers, the article was an introduction to the 6'8" schoolboy phenom from Akron who possessed a revolutionary combination of size, skill, athleticism and uncanny playmaking abilities. The King had risen.

The LeBron XXIII 'From This Point Forward' takes inspiration from LeBron's prospect days at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. On the upper, a repeating pattern of four horsemen represents LeBron's four best friends from childhood. Green piping outlines the midfoot crown, while the Swoosh is enshrined in gold—a call back to his Fighting Irish university. On the heel, a golden Chosen 1 logo calls back to the famous Sports Illustrated cover where we got our first glimpse of the King.