LeBron James is headed back to China for the 15th time with Nike, this time for his Forever King Tour — a trip that not only reconnects him with basketball fans across the country but also marks 20 years since his very first Nike Asia tour.
Next month, right before his 23rd NBA season tips off, LeBron will be making stops in Shanghai and Chengdu. The mission? To spread his love for the game, celebrate basketball’s passionate fanbase in Asia, and keep inspiring the next wave of hoopers.
“There’s an unbelievable love and appreciation for basketball in Asia that’s always incredible to experience,” says LeBron. “To have the opportunity to share the game with fans and connect with athletes all over the world means a lot to me.”
One of the biggest highlights of the trip will be his work with the latest class of athletes in the Nike RISE program — a grassroots-to-pro pathway that’s been shaping and supporting young talent for over a decade. The 2025 group of players, who survived two tough rounds of tryouts earlier this summer, will get the rare chance to train under LeBron’s guidance.
From mental toughness drills to fine-tuning their physical game, LeBron will be hands-on in preparing them for what’s next. After the training, he’ll also announce the RISING 10 boys’ and girls’ rosters — squads built on three months of commitment and grind. To top it off, the boys will take on a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic team, while the girls will match up against an EYBL Girls squad — giving both groups a chance to prove themselves on an international stage.
“My message has always been the same to the next generation of athletes who are inspired to play the game: If there’s something that you love to do, go out and do it,” says LeBron. “Fall in love with the process and not the results. That’s the number one key to me, and I always try to instill that in anyone who’s inspired by what I do or needs words of encouragement about how to reach their goals.”
LeBron’s connection to China runs deep. He first touched down in 2005 for his debut Nike Asia tour and has been back 13 more times in the years since. Across those visits, he’s helped grow the sport, motivated young athletes to chase their dreams, and built lasting bridges between American and Chinese basketball culture. This will be his eighth visit to Shanghai and his second to Chengdu, the first being back in 2011.
The Forever King Tour is another chapter in LeBron and Nike’s long-standing mission to give back to the game. It’s about fueling the culture, lifting up the next generation, and proving how basketball can cross borders, bring people together, and leave a lasting mark.
You can follow along with LeBron’s journey on Instagram at @nikebasketball.
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