After a few posts teased the release of the Hornet star’s first signature shoe, LaMelo Ball finally unveiled the MB1 at the NBA Summer League. As of now, this makes LaMelo Ball the first and only signature athlete of Puma, since the revival of their basketball department.
Upper
Aesthetically, the MB1 speaks a modest design language, staying within Puma’s design philosophy of lifestyle performance. Rather than standing out as much as possible, the shoe focuses on fine details to tell it’s story. The wing embroidery, a part of LaMelo’s logo, covering the ankle is one of many examples. In terms of performance, the MB1 uses a performance mesh upper with fuse around the toe area and medial side for support.
Midsole
For cushioning, it looks like the MB1 uses a single type of foam throughout the midsole. It is likely to be Rider Foam from the Court Rider, a shoe worn by LaMelo Ball for the majority of the season.
Outsole
The outsole is separated by two distinct patterns on the forefoot and the heel. The forefoot area features a pivot point with the grooves spreading out from it. The heel features geometric shapes each filled with straight and curved grooves.
SNEAKER SPECULATION 