[Update 03 Oct] More news have since come to light since leaked images of the New Balance 650R first surfaced. It’s now known that the pairs are a subsumption of a much larger apparel collection: the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance F/W22 Sonny New York Collection.

Sonny New York is a basketball program founded by ALD in 2017. Last season’s collection debuted the silhouette with it returning again in navy, green, and grey. Accompanying it is a full spectrum of hoops-themed apparel and accessories that consist of jerseys, gym shorts, warmup tops and bottoms, hoodies, sweaters, graphic tees, and caps. The color palette of the items all stay thematically-consistent throughout.

The apparel was released on 29th September on ALD’s website. The shoes however, will be raffled and will open on 3rd October, 11 a.m. (EST).

Aimé Leon Dore and New Balance are becoming as synonymous with each other as Jordan is with Nike, and Yeezy with adidas (for now, at least). ALD has enough boosters in their apparel line to launch them into an orbit of their own, but its their partnership with NB that landed them on the stars; beginning with the NB997 in 2019, and countless more since, each one sought-after.

Last year, the entire 650R collection was made available for pre-order, with a wider release taking place in early 2022. If you weren’t able to catch lightning in a bottle the first time, struck out in the second, then this third coming might be the charm. The collection will get another launch at an undisclosed date and looking at the leaked images that’ve surfaced, it seems like the navy and grey will lead the vanguard, with more colorways to follow suit.

Typically ALD, the 650R(s) carry an aged aesthetic as evoked by the cracked leather ‘N’ logo on the laterals. Cream mesh make up the silhouette’s base while overlaid with contrasting navy/grey leather. The vintage touch further extends by way of the familiar cream laces and soles. Lastly. branding elements make their appearance on the tongue and alternating on the heels.

In other New Balance news, peep the New Balance 550 “Nightwatch Green”. Truly, grass is greener on the other side.