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Twitter has more jokes as Kawhi Leonard debuts signature New Balance shoe
Everyone had jokes when Kawhi Leonard announced he’d be teaming up with New Balance to release his signature shoe.
But when the Raptors star took the court in Charlotte, North Carolina for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, wearing his signature sneakers for the very first time, folks on Twitter reacted with … more jokes.
Opinions on social media seem to range between “what are those!” and “they’re not half bad,” which I must say is much better than what I would have expected. But make no mistake, the reaction was more about who’s got the best jokes and less about giving an honest take on the shoe.
(As it usually is.)
These Kawhi Leonard basketball shoes are the Kawhi Leonard of basketball shoes pic.twitter.com/BGdnyqej9z
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 18, 2019
This is how NBA twitter is treating Kawhi before his shoes even drop. pic.twitter.com/qf5Gsvf13z
— Royden Ogletree (@roydenogletree) February 14, 2019
Kawhi Leonard & new Balance
Just did pimp my ride to my grandmas life alert shoes. https://t.co/YAdOKF3hPc— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) February 15, 2019
New Balance: You can pick any font for your name on the shoes
Kawhi Leonard: Times New Roman https://t.co/kYfpz2TqeN
— Yasuke (@MXIMVS) February 15, 2019
Kawhi Leonard’s New Balance Hoop shoes:
Me: pic.twitter.com/cK4pLh1Hxx— Thelonious Smootie (@smootie513) February 18, 2019
I can’t believe someone is getting paid a lot of money at New Balance to come up with shoes that look like those Kawhi Leonard’s. How many $500k a yr salaries approved this silhouette?
— Dionte' (@DionteSays) February 18, 2019
Them Kawhi Leonard new balance shoes hella ugly
— Issa Evil World We Live In (@New_Black_Elit3) February 18, 2019
There were, however, a few who had the gall to actually suggest that they don’t exactly hate the new kicks.
Be honest. If Kawhi Leonard’s New Balance shoes had a swoosh where the N is and said “Nike” instead of New Balance people would love these. Too brand obsessed. These are nice. pic.twitter.com/u0xd5jk83P
— Helix (@D0UBLE_HELIX) February 18, 2019
Lowkey those new balance shoes that Kawhi is rocking aren't bad
— Andrew Oktavec. (@AndrewOktavec) February 18, 2019
I’ll say It…I don’t hate Kawhi’s shoes… 🤷🏾♂️
— CK2K (@_CK2K) February 18, 2019
Kawhi’s shoes look better on his feet.
— Big LakeShow (@KP_Trill) February 18, 2019
I'll say it since no one else will: Kawhi shoes don't look half bad https://t.co/BpulUTZWxG
— Lazy Creative (@wakeupand__) February 18, 2019
It’s pretty telling when the best endorsement is simply “meh, they’re not bad,” but we probably should have expected this based on the comedy that surrounded this partnership when it was first announced.
One thing I can tell you, though, is that Kawhi probably cares for the hot takes on his new shoe just as much as he cares for the winter weather in Toronto.
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