Kawhi Leonard was not always the superstar he has become in recent years. Back in 2011, the Indiana Pacers drafted him using the 15th overall pick. However, the Spurs saw potential in him and traded for him on draft night. It was this one decision that changed the trajectory of Kawhi’s career, as the Spurs nurtured him into a star. Although Kawhi left the unit on bad terms, if it weren’t for them, he might not have achieved the superstar status.
Now, being extremely popular comes with its own perks in the NBA. Along with lucrative contracts, it enables the athletes to gain multi-million dollar shoe deals as well. Today, we will talk about what shoe deal does the 4-time All-star has and how he became part of the company.
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Does Kawhi Leonard wear New Balance?
Most superstars in the league have huge shoe deals with big names like Nike, Adidas, or Air Jordan. But Kawhi separated himself from the crowd and chose New Balance instead. However, before joining New Balance, Kawhi was a part of the Jordan brand in the past.
Notably, it all fell apart in 2019 when Nike (Jordan’s parent brand) allegedly stopped Kawhi from using his ‘Klaw Logo’. This led to Leonard filing a lawsuit against the company and ultimately leaving the brand that he wore for several years.
This is Kawhi's city.@newbalance #WeGotNow pic.twitter.com/PsOtzv3BiE
— New Balance Basketball (@newbalancehoops) November 13, 2019
Read more – Kawhi Leonard Facts that Are As Mind-blowing As His Iconic Game-Winner vs Sixers
What does New Balance OMN1S mean?
Kawhi Leonard wore the New Balance OMN1S shoe back in the 2019 all-star game. However, one might wonder what does this uncommon name means? Well, according to New Balance themselves, the company took inspiration from the Latin word ‘Omnis,’ which means ‘of everything.’
The reason behind this choice was to represent the modern players that can play positionless basketball. Leonard rocked these shoes in his terrific 2019 championship run with the Raptors. When the Klaw won his second championship and bagged in his second Finals MVP, the popularity of those shoes skyrocketed.
Collaborated with Kawhi on 6 PEs of the OMN1S. We wanted people to vote for the debut at #NBAAllStar
But Kawhi wears whatever color he wants. pic.twitter.com/lpn7jVBBzV
— New Balance Basketball (@newbalancehoops) February 15, 2019
How much is Kawhi Leonard New Balance deal worth?
When New Balance signed the 5x All-Star back in 2018, it was clear that he would be the face of the company. According to Forbes, the Los Angeles Clippers star earns around $5.5 million from his endorsement deal. Apart from this, Leonard recently signed a 4-year $176.3 million extension with the LA Clippers too.
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Leonard is one of the most complete players in the league, and his earnings are definitely on par with his superstar status. Next season, he will be looking forward to shrugging off an injury-struck 2021 playoff run.
How much are Kawhi Leonard’s shoes?
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The New Balance OMN1S was the first shoe that Kawhi wore from the brand, but his first signature shoe was the New Balance KAWHI. The OMNI1S cost $140.00 and they have a 4-star rating on most review panels. So what do you think, are these sneakers value for money? Help us know your favorite shoe brand in the comments section below.
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