Made for today’s positionless player, New Balance unveils the TWO WXY
A little over two years ago, New Balance made their return to basketball, signing Kawhi Leonard alongside the OMN1S, their first performance hoop shoe since the days of the Red Rocket (Matt Bonner). Since then, NB Hoops signed a couple more players in the same mold as Leonard – Darius Bazley, Dejounte Murray and most recently the Blue Arrow, Jamal Murray. What these players all represent is the future of basketball, where the game isn’t dictated by their ‘position’ but what they do at both ends of the court. This March, New Balance Hoops officially unveils the TWO WXY, the shoe that fits the same mold of that versatile player.
“With the TWO WXY, we wanted to create something that players at any level would not only want to wear, but need to wear, if they wish to perform at the highest level,” says Jonathan Grondin, Design Director for Field of Play and Basketball at New Balance. “For decades, the focus of the basketball shoe world has been more on the superstar names and less on performance. The TWO WXY is all about the technology and giving every player, whether they’re competing for an NBA championship or a state title, the same opportunity to maximize their potential.”
Jonathan Grondin, Design Director for Field of Play and Basketball at New Balance
If we were to focus on the elements of the shoe, the TWO WXY uses the brand’s Kinetic Stitch technology for its upper, giving us stretch and support where its needed the most. Similar to the Kawhi and the OMN1S, the shoe uses FuelCell for cushioning and responsiveness. More than anything, it’s the Kinetic Stitch upper that makes the TWO WXY tick. NB’s Sports Research Lab came up with an algorithm to design the upper as well as the outsole traction pattern found on the shoe. Initially used for the brand’s running line, the same tech is now used for basketball for superior traction. The shoe also sports a no-sew tongue, keeping the shoe fuss-free for all you two-way players out there.
The three athletes we mentioned (Darius Bazley, Jamal and Dejounte Murray) have worn the TWO WXY on court and Dejounte’s ‘Fiesta’ colorway has been one of the more highly anticipated colorways to drop. The New Balance TWO WXY ‘My Journey’ Fiesta drops this Monday, March 15 and will retail for Php 6,495. The shoe will be available at the following New Balance, The Athlete’s Foot, Planet Sports and Sports Central doors:
- New Balance – Glorietta 4, ATC, BHS, Trinoma, Marquee Mall and Ayala Center Cebu (soon)
- Planet Sports
- Sports Central – SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Mall of Asia
The TWO WXY will have other colorways drop throughout 2021. Aside from the TWO WXY, the NB Swish apparel collection featuring the NB Swish hoodie in grey and black (Php 3,495) and the NB Swish tee in black and white (Php 1,495).
