After missing the first 10 weeks of the 2024-2025 NBA season, Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard returned to the court in early January, proving why the franchise missed him. Currently, the perennial all-star is averaging 16.4 points per game while shooting 47% from the field, and helping him achieve these stats is his signature sneaker with New Balance, the Kawhi 4, which debuted at the end of the 2023-2024 NBA season. Kawhi and NB have come together to create a Purple Punch colorway for All-Star weekend.
Even though Kawhi was not named to the 2025 NBA All-Star roster, NB and the "Fun Guy" have made homage to the West Coast through the sunset-like purple color palette and the graphic applied to the outsole. Engineered purple mesh graces the silhouette's base, while fused TPU overlays in a darker purple reinforce the upper on select portions. Bright yellow accents appear on the two-tone laces, Kawhi logos on the tongue and heel, and the palm tree-branded bubbles on the lateral and medial heels.
New Balance branding is relatively reserved compared to a typical NB sneaker, placing the N logo on the upper eyelet on the lateral side, outlining the letter on the medial, and debossing NB into the rubber outsole near the toe. The sole unit below features a tonal purple finish with a gradient yellow "sunset" applied near the lateral heel. Graphics representing the sunsets of the Pacific are found on the insole and the outsole, the latter splitting the design between the two shoes.
The New Balance Kawhi 4 Purple Punch will release on February 7, 2025, through New Balance and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is $160. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via New Balance
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
