New Balance Basketball's Kawhi V Launches Oct. 21
As the 2026-27 NBA season gets ready to begin, New Balance Basketball has unveiled its fifth signature sneaker for Kawhi Leonard.
The 35-year-old is back with the Toronto Raptors for his 15th NBA season. As revealed during the 2026 All-Star Weekend, he will rock the New Balance Kawhi V throughout the next year.
The sneaker arrives in two launch colorways: "Oregano/Cinnamon" and "Blue Oyster/Oxford Blue." The silhouette's shape isn't too dissimilar from its immediate predecessor, but the Kawhi 5 opts for an aesthetic that aligns with many of New Balance's other performance-first products—designs that combine heritage and sporty elements.
Tech specs for Leonard's fifth New Balance Basketball shoe include:
- Dual-Density FuelCell foam midsole for a propulsive feel
- Y-shaped TPU plate
- PU cast cage & tip for lockdown & durability
- TPU heel counter for added lockdown
- Unique multidirectional rubber tread
The Boston-based brand will seemingly focus a lot of the marketing behind the Kawhi V around the fact that Leonard is known as "The Klaw" for his large hands. When flexed all the way, Leonard's hands make the number 5, which reflects his fifth shoe.
Inaugural pairs of the performance hoops model release on Thursday, Oct. 22, for $160 each. Shop the pairs on NewBalance.com.
In just 12 minutes of action, Kawhi delivered a colossal 31-point performance, reminding everyone why his signature line continues to carry weight within New Balance Basketball’s growing roster. The New Balance Kawhi 5 was front and center for every bucket, serving as both performance tool and statement piece in one of the weekend’s most dominant stretches.
Images shared by Nick DePaula provide a closer look at the model, which leans into New Balance’s evolving basketball design language. The New Balance Kawhi 5 borrows cues from the brand’s recently introduced P350 and P400 silhouettes, featuring sculpted sidewalls, layered synthetic and mesh paneling, and an enlarged “N” logo integrated cleanly into the upper. The midsole geometry appears streamlined yet aggressive, built for stability and controlled explosiveness — traits that align directly with Leonard’s methodical game.
The low-cut build suggests a continued emphasis on lockdown and responsiveness, while subtle textural shifts across the upper hint at performance layering that balances structure with breathability. Leonard and New Balance's design team worked together closely to refine elements from their partnership's latest project. The Kawhi V has been built around key innovations, which include a premium, soft upper, dual-density FuelCell midsole, and a forefoot Y Plate designed to assist propulsion.
"Collaborating with Kawhi on the KAWHI V pushed us to dial into what makes his game unique — intent, control, and that immediate burst," shared Kevin Trotman, Senior Product Manager for New Balance Basketball, an an official press release. "This model provides the containment and support needed to drive with confidence while maintaining a refined aesthetic that speaks to life off the court."
A retail debut for the New Balance Kawhi V has not yet been announced, the silhouette will debut via NewBalance.com throughout summer.
Stay tuned for updates by downloading the brand-new House of Heat° mobile app.
