New Balance Celebrates Kawhi Leonard's California Homecoming with OMN1S "First Light"

Kawhi Leonard‘s California roots run deep, so New Balance has been celebrating the stoic forward’s return to his home state with multiple iterations of his OMN1S — the latest of which is the “First Light.” Warm and vibrant, the style is inspired by California’s bright sunshine and colorful summertime basketball culture.

Although Leonard’s signature line may have moved on to the aptly-named Kawhi, the Los Angeles Clippers‘ forward’s first shoe still cuts a striking silhouette. Bright neon yellow is used for the left foot, while the right foot takes on a peachy reddish-pink. Each uses the other foot’s base color as a secondary tone on the laces and eyestays, while also calling upon a flecked black print for contrast. Tonal midfoot bands aid with lockdown, FuelCell midsoles ensure cushioning and branded accents on tongue alike and collar offer inverse-colored trim to round off the look.

The “First Light” is set to be accompanied by new takes on New Balance’s 997S and 850, official images of which are forthcoming. However leaked retailer photos from earlier in the year show a similar blend of vibrant base hues and black accents, sans the yin-yang colorblocking of the OMN1S.

Between Kawhi and other team members like Darius Bazley and Dejounte Murray, New Balance’s basketball line is growing slowly but steadily, and the OMN1S appears to be at the head of that effort for the forseeable future. The “First Light” will debut via a NTWRK-exclusive drop on July 7, then hit the New Balance webstore on July 9. It’s priced at $140 USD.

Elsewhere in the world of footwear, Kanye West and adidas have announced an official release date for the YEEZY QNTM “Barium.”