The stage is set. The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers will meet on Wednesday night to kick off the 2020 NBA Finals. Two teams that didn’t even make the playoffs last year will now be squaring off for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. LeBron James has been seen wearing his new 18th model during pre-game warm-ups and then switching to either his 17’s or 7’s come game time. Kobe 5 Protros remain steady among players in addition to new colorways spotted. Unlike ten years ago during the original run of the Kobe 5’s, todays game is truly “positionless basketball” – with point guards 6’2″ and big men 7’0″ rocking low top Kobes.

Jordan Brand athlete, Kemba Walker, wasted no time in wearing some Celtics-inspired Air Jordan 35’s. LeBron has been wearing mismatched shoes as well as changing pairs during halftime (hey, whatever works, right?). The young Miami Heat squad is filled with players sporting Kobe models and now they’ll be facing the team the late great Mamba played for. In surprising fashion, this week’s #1 spot was taken by a new player for the first time all season. Look below to see who rocked one of the best P.E.’s yet.

**Honorable Mention** – Nike Flip Flops – LeBron James

10. Nike KD 13 “Easy Money Sniper” – Paul Millsap

9. Nike Kobe 5 Protro P.E. – Torrey Craig

8. Nike LeBron XVII “2K Playoffs” – LeBron James

7. Air Jordan XXXV “Celtics” P.E. – Kemba Walker

6. Nike Kobe 5 Protro P.E. – Anthony Davis

5. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “P.J. Tucker” – Bam Adebayo

4. Nike LeBron XVIII “Reflections” – LeBron James

3. Nike LeBron XVII P.E. – LeBron James

2. Nike LeBron VII P.E. – LeBron James

1. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “South Beach” P.E. – Andre Iguodala

The Eastern and Western Conference Finals are off and running. The Denver Nuggets came back from yet another 3-1 deficit to upset the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs. The Clippers’ title hopes will have to wait until the 2020-21 season as they go yet another year without advancing to a Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are squaring off against each other in the east, in what can easily be either team’s series to win. Anthony Davis hit the biggest shot of his career on Sunday night, netting a step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer to edge LA over Denver and go up 2-0 in the series. It was definitely a Kobe Bryant moment as the Lakers were sporting their ‘Mamba’ jerseys and A.D. was wearing the “Bruce Lee” Kobe 5’s.

No P.J. Tucker in this week’s countdown as his team has “gone fishing.” This week’s Kicks Through the Lens will be the last time Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are featured until next season. LeBron debuted a brand new P.E. colorway of his Lebron 7’s this past week with a nod to another professional sports team in LA. One under-the-radar player brought back a P.E. from his college days. Paul George gave us one last great color scheme in his Nike PG 1’s. Since we are down to four teams left in the playoffs, our countdown will now be 10 sneakers due to there being less material to choose from. Will a Kobe or LeBron model grab this week’s top spot?

10. Nike Kobe 5 Protro P.E. – Paul Millsap

9. Nike KD 11 “Tennessee P.E.” – Grant Williams

8. Nike PG 1 P.E. – Paul George

7. New Balance THE KAWHI “Jolly Rancher” – Kawhi Leonard

6. Nike Kobe 5 Protro P.E. – Anthony Davis

5. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “EYBL” – Bam Adebayo

4. Nike LeBron XVII P.E. – LeBron James

3. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Bruce Lee” – Anthony Davis

2. Nike LeBron XVII “Air Command Force” P.E. (Alternate) – LeBron James

1. Nike LeBron VII “Dodgers” P.E. – LeBron James