New Balance Reveals Kawhi Leonard’s First True Signature Shoe

Michael Le February 26th, 2020 (updated)

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Inheriting the OMN1S straight out of its debut, Kawhi Leonard has become an integral piece in the New Balance Hoops playbook, joining them for the many colorways thereafter and their component at All-Star Weekend — an event that even enlisted creative Joe Freshgoods for a bit of help. But though the aforementioned has effectively become his own, it’s technically not his first signature silhouette; rather, that title is now owned by the eponymous KAWHI that made history as it stepped on court for the first time tonight. Replete with a minutia of detail, the pair starts its base relatively simple and neutral, as white mesh and synthetics cover from the midsole upward. Side panels, however, infuse a well-needed mix of color as orange, blues, and reds thread an abstract mosaic in perpetuity, warping upwards to a tongue whose tones prefer a more watercolor appearance. Along the ankle, an aggressively high frequency lays out in bright red across a backdrop of cool tone grids, sitting quite close by to logo hits associated with not only the athlete but also the Boston institution. Grab a detailed look at these here, and though there will be a limited quantity going out this Spring, chances are you’re more likely to grab a set come their global launch in Fall of this year.