The 76.5 million subscribers to LeBron James' Instagram account must have been surprised at the start of the year when they discovered his new profile picture.
The American basketball player from the Los Angeles Lakers has chosen a shot of… Kylian Mbappé, in the jersey of the France team.
And, as one would have guessed when we know the link between the two men, the PSG striker, followed by 45.9 million people, did the same by taking up the portrait of James on his own account.
Behind this sympathetic nod between two champions who respect and admire each other, is in fact hiding an upcoming commercial event.
Nike, their common sponsor, is preparing to put on sale a model of shoes that links its two most prestigious representatives.
⚽️x🏀 = 👑 Two of the biggest sports stars in the world combine, with Nike set to drop a special @KMbappe edition of the LeBron 18 - NBA Champion @KingJames' current signature shoe: https://t.co/x80gmGvWAR pic .twitter.com / 6f0OsI2T51
- SoccerBible (@SoccerBible) January 4, 2021
In this project, a pair of Lebron 18 sneakers would be available in a “Mbappé edition” with red, purple and the Frenchman's initials on the tongue.
Two red Nike commas would symbolize this collaboration between the two superstars which will certainly delight the young world champion, a big NBA fan.
LeBron James had in the past made a good promotion for the Bondy Dreams collection of the PSG striker, by appearing with the green Nike FC jersey in the colors of Bondy, the hometown of the Parisian striker, two days after the launch of the first clothing line of the Parisian crack.
In addition, in January, a pair of Air Jordan shoes is expected in parallel with the release of PSG's fourth “Jordan” jersey, in flashy pink and mauve tones.