NBA megastar LeBron James has made no secret that Deion Sanders, AKA Coach Prime, was one of his childhood idols growing up. Throughout his career, James has tipped the cap several times to Sanders by using his signature Diamond Turf sneakers as inspiration for his own. King James is back at it with an upcoming release of the LeBron 21 “Prime 96 Varsity Red”.
The LeBron 21 uses the rising red flame over white upper design similar to the Diamond Turf 96 colorway Coach Prime wore during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. The shoe features a midfoot velcro strap and the Diamond Turf signature Home Plate/Goal Post logo as a symbol of Deion's two-sport career. James first debuted the LeBron 21 “Prime 96 Varsity Red” during the 2024 NBA Playoffs in a game against the Denver Nuggets. Coach Prime and Nike also reintroduced the Diamond Turf 96 recently creating a huge amount of buzz around the design.
While many thought the shoe was a Player Exclusive, the LeBron 21 “Prime 96 Varsity Red” will soon see a public release. The crossover shoe will be released via Nike and other select retailers during the Summer 2025 seasonal offerings. Stay tuned to our Twitter and Instagram for updates on all the latest sneaker releases.
Images via SneakerBarDetroit