James Worthy Era UNC Hits The New Balance 650

Evidently, spring means the New Balance 650. While the high-cut basketball model has been a featured silhouette in the NB brand strategy since taking off in 2021, we’ve gotten a slew of new clean-cut looks in the past few weeks. On tap once again, the New Balance 650 is emerging in a “White/Navy/University Blue” formulation that leans into their biggest strengths.

Last in the colorway name pecking order, “University Blue” may be the most striking shade on display here (and a subtle tie to one of the first NB athletes), but it functionally plays the smallest role. It only dons half of the outsole, the 650 branding towards the forefoot and a slight slice on the heel. Its complementary interplay with the navy featured elsewhere on the shoe certainly does a lot for the palette overall, however.

Despite bucking conventional fashion wisdom with the black and navy combo around the tongue, collar and medial branding, the two darker shades work well together in this application. Overall, the 650 leans into the appeal it’s continued to tap into over the past handful of years; the blocky, retro design of the shoe is able to effortlessly convey vintage style in another white-dominant colorway.

The New Balance 650 “White/Navy/University Blue” is anticipated to release as a part of the brand’s Spring ’24 slate. Arriving in men’s sizing, we expect a retail price of $140.

Elsewhere for NB, the Joe Freshgoods New Balance 1000 looms as one of this season’s biggest releases.

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