Celebrity Name: Kawhi Leonard
Brand Name: New Balance
Deal Type: Signature Shoe — 5th Installment
Announced: April 9, 2026
Impact: Deepens a 7-year signature shoe partnership; positions New Balance Basketball ahead of the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a $160 unisex release and matching apparel capsule
- New Balance and Kawhi Leonard officially unveiled the KAWHI V on April 9, 2026, the fifth installment of their signature shoe line, priced at $160 and releasing Summer 2026 through New Balance and select retailers.
- For the first time, Kawhi is stepping into the role of Creative Director for the launch campaign, personally shaping the visual identity and narrative tied to his longtime nickname.
- The shoe features a dual-density FuelCell midsole, a forefoot YPlate for explosive directional movement, and a soft lockdown upper, all designed around Leonard’s two-way playing style.
- An apparel capsule drops alongside the first colorway, including a warm-up jacket, tapered performance shorts, and a breathable training tee.
New Balance and two-time NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard are back with their fifth signature shoe, and this time, Kawhi is running the show. Announced on April 9, 2026, the KAWHI V is set to drop this summer at $160, built around Leonard’s instinct for control, explosiveness, and quiet excellence.
The silhouette carries all the hallmarks of the signature line: a dual-density FuelCell midsole, a forefoot YPlate for quick cuts, and a soft upper built for lockdown comfort, but the standout story is Kawhi stepping into the Creative Director seat for the campaign.
His influence on the visual language and rollout is a direct extension of the hands-on approach he’s brought to the line since partnering with New Balance back in November 2018, when he left Jordan Brand to become the centerpiece of the brand’s basketball re-entry.
That bet paid off. New Balance has since built one of the most enviable basketball rosters in the game, signing Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, and most recently, NFL quarterback Jalen Milroe as a brand ambassador.
Off the court, Leonard also holds active partnerships with Hyundai (since April 2022) and Cargo Jet Airways, making New Balance the centerpiece of his athletic identity. Leonard heads into the playoffs as a tide-shifting presence for the Los Angeles Clippers, adding real-time buzz to an already well-timed drop.
Takeaways
The KAWHI V isn’t just a sneaker launch, it’s a brand maturity story. Seven years into a partnership that drew public ridicule when it was first announced, Kawhi Leonard is now functioning as a creative executive, not just a face on a box.
That’s a meaningful evolution in how athlete-brand deals are structured, and it signals growing trust between Leonard and New Balance’s design team.
The timing is equally sharp. Dropping the reveal as the Clippers push into playoff contention puts the shoe in the spotlight at exactly the right moment, when the most eyes are on Leonard.
And pairing the footwear drop with an apparel capsule shows New Balance is serious about growing its on-court lifestyle presence, not just moving units.
Does Kawhi’s Creative Director role signal a new standard for athlete involvement in sneaker campaigns, or is it mostly a marketing title? How does this launch compare to New Balance’s NFL push and which play will have more cultural impact in 2026?
