Nike LeBron TR1 ‘Purple Rain’ Nods to 2015 Costume, LeBron Teases ‘Eggplant’ Cleats for OSU

Nike has unveiled the LeBron TR1 “Purple Rain,” a sneaker that pays homage to LeBron James’ 2015 Halloween costume as Prince. Meanwhile, LeBron teases Nike LeBron 4 “Eggplant” cleats for Ohio State players ahead of their showdown against Oregon, continuing his support for his home state.

Nike LeBron TR1 'Purple Rain' Pays Tribute to LeBron's Iconic 2015 Prince Halloween Costume

LeBron James' Halloween costumes have become a staple of the season, creating a social media frenzy every October. From memorable portrayals like Beetlejuice to Pennywise, James enthusiastically embraces the holiday. One standout moment came in 2015 when he dressed as Prince and performed "Purple Rain" at a Cleveland Cavaliers Halloween party. According to Sneaker News, the performance received the ultimate approval stamp when Prince shared the video on social media.

While fans await LeBron’s next viral Halloween costume, Nike has unveiled a sneaker that subtly nods to his 2015 Prince costume—the Nike LeBron TR1 "Purple Rain." This trainer, notable for being LeBron’s first non-basketball signature shoe, is adorned with purple accents reminiscent of the iconic song. Featuring a lightly colored Swoosh over dark fabric and TPU, the shoe pays tribute to the pop legend. Set to release on October 23rd for $130, the "Purple Rain" colorway follows other notable colorways like "Dunkman" and "Zero Dark Thirty," which drop on October 10th.

Fans can check out the official images of the LeBron TR1 “Purple Rain” before its release while LeBron’s signature basketball line, the LeBron 21, continues to roll out new colorways.

LeBron Teases Special Edition Nike LeBron 4 'Eggplant' Cleats for Ohio State Ahead of Big Ten Showdown

In other LeBron-related news, the NBA star is lending his support to his home state as two undefeated teams—Oregon and Ohio State—prepare for a major Big Ten showdown. To give Ohio State an edge, LeBron outfit the team with special edition cleats inspired by the LeBron 4 "Eggplant" colorway, first introduced in May. Nike’s Vapor Edge cleats, a favored canvas for player exclusives, have been reimagined with opposite material and a reflective finish, staying true to the original LeBron 4 design. His 23 logo is prominently displayed on the tongue as a nod to LeBron's Ohio roots.

This continues a tradition started in 2023 when LeBron debuted the LeBron 4 "Graffiti" cleats, a tribute to one of the year’s biggest LeBron retro releases. Although these cleats are currently player exclusives, the growing trend of high-profile on-field footwear—such as Deion Sanders’ cleats and the Kobe 6 "Grinch" cleats—could signal a potential public release in the future.

Fans can glimpse the teaser image ahead of Saturday’s Oregon-Ohio State game, where the Buckeyes will be sporting these exclusive pairs.