New Balance sponsored athletes list of all time includes 1. Kawhi Leonard 2. Raheem Sterling 3. Coco Gauff. Here we discuss New Balance sponsored athletes and their influence on the brand.
New Balance has sponsored some of the world’s best athletes from NBA players Kawhi Leonard and Zach LaVine to soccer stars Sadio Mane and Raheem DeVito.
Sponsoring athletes gives the business access to rich content and communication opportunities.
For example, New Balance can make social media posts and videos highlighting athletes’ training schedules, daily challenges, and victories. These stories have great potential to boost customer engagement and brand loyalty.
By sponsoring athletes, a company can associate its brand with the good traits of the athlete, such as perseverance, hard effort, and success.
Sponsored athletes signed contracts allowing New Balance to use their names, likenesses, and achievements to promote their products.
The company also offers these players access to its cutting-edge training resources and cash incentives.
1. Kawhi Leonard -Basketball
Kawhi Leonard signed a multi-year endorsement deal with the New Balance in 2018. Kawhi is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA.
He appeared in New Balance’s advertisement in 2022 which promoted an upcoming basketball shoe.
Leonard had a successful signature shoe line since signing a new multi-year footwear and apparel deal with New Balance. He has worn the New Balance Kawhi II, his second signature design, for the entire season.
He is the most famous basketball player to represent New Balance since James Worthy debuted a signature model in the 1980s. Kawhi released his first signature shoe with the company the New Balance OMN1S.
He attracts a lot of media while playing on the court. Leonard gets into the spotlight during basketball’s most important time of year with a strong playoff performance.
Kawhi’s signature shoe with the New Balance, Kawhi II was released on July 14, 2022. He has two NBA titles, five All-Star selections, and three first-team All-NBA honors.
He was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs.
Leonard is recognized as one of the finest point guards in the NBA due to his combination of quickness, size, and knowledge.
2. Raheem Sterling – Football
Raheem Sterling signed in a multi-year deal with New Balance in 2021. Raheem is a football player who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea.
New Balance designed some brand-new, customized boots for Raheem in honor of the Three Lions’ progress through the Euro 2020 group stage.
Sterling collaborates with the company on performance and lifestyle products, including exclusive and signature items, in addition to wearing New Balance Furon v6+ footwear on the field.
The fourth version of the Chelsea forward’s signature New Balance boot honors his journey to the top of English football.
Like Kawhi Leonard, Sterling will also get to put his own spin on lifestyle products with the New Balance. New Balance has modified Sterling’s special Furon v6+ boots with the addition of a new golden touch.
He was awarded a golden boy award in 2014. He was signed in by Manchester City for £49 million, the highest paid for an English player.
Raheem assisted in Manchester City’s back-to-back Premier League championships in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.
He was chosen to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season and won both the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards.
3. Coco Gauff – Tennis
Coco Gauff signed a multi-year sponsorship contract with New Balance in 2018. Coco is a professional tennis player who has a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in singles.
Gauff wore a colorful outfit by New Balance with mismatched colors in contrast to her doubles partner Venus Williams’ all-white costume at the 2021 French Open.
According to sportspromedia, she stated that New Balance has helped her since her junior tennis playing career, and they have been there for her during her career’s peak moments.
In 2022, she made her New Balance debut at the Atlanta Open wearing her brand-new signature shoe, the NB Coco CG1. This sponsorship move will signal a crucial turning point in her career.
She becomes the only active female tennis player with a signature shoe. Gauff had a major role in the design of the shoe, starting with vision discussions with New Balance soon after joining the company in 2018.
According to New Balance, there will be more colorways released in 2023. She recently advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals after making it to her first Grand Slam final at the French Open in June.
Coco was given a wildcard for the Wimbledon Championships qualifying round in 2019, where she advanced to the main draw as the tournament’s youngest player.
She played in the women’s doubles final at the US Open in 2021, and at the French Open in 2022, she made her first singles final.
4. Francisco Lindor – Baseball
Francisco Lindor sign in with the New Balance in 2017. Francisco is the professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of MLB.
The first-ever ball shoe and apparel collection from New Balance were created and launched with Lindor’s assistance.
Lindor was there at every step when deciding on the colors, materials, writing, and finishes.
According to Cbssports, he stated that he remembers going over ideas with New Balance and starting to put things together.
The Lindor 1 shoe line includes a lifestyle model and a traditional baseball cleat design that is available in black and white. All of the shoes feature a distinctive floral pattern.
Lindor claims he was motivated by the flower that is considered to be the national flower of his home nation. Hibiscus, Puerto Rico’s national flower, inspires Francisco Lindor’s edition of the design of the sneakers.
He was the first shortstop from Puerto Rico to win the Gold Glove Award in 2016. In 2017, he received his first Silver Slugger Award.
In 2015, Lindor finished second in the voting for American League Rookie of the Year, and in 2017, he was chosen for the All-WBC Team.
5. Sydney McLaughlin – Track And Field
Sydney McLaughlin signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement with New Balance in 2018. Sydney is an American hurdler and sprinter.
McLaughlin stated that New Balance has a long history of being a great running company. She released her first shoes FuelCell Propel RMX v2 with New Balance in 2021.
She launched the NB x Sydney McLaughlin collection after winning gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles and the women’s 4×400-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
From McLaughlin’s beginning as a young runner to her position as a current Olympian in track and field, the New Balance x Sydney Signature Collection includes footwear and apparel.
She played an important role in the collection’s creation, from the fit of the garments to their styling. Sydney holds the Olympic record for Tokyo 2020 and the world record for the year 2022 with a timing of 50.68 seconds.
She finished third at the American Olympic Trials and she is the youngest athlete to qualify for the U.S. track team since 1980.
McLaughlin won the Diamond League title in 2019. McLaughlin-Levrone won the title of Female Athlete of the Year in 2022 from World Athletics.
6. Milos Raonic – Tennis
Milos Raonic is the first tennis player to endorse New Balance clothing and shoe apparel in 2013. Milos is a Canadian tennis player who has been ranked as world No. 3 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
He deals a contract worth US $1 million annually over a five-year term. The agreement was renewed for the duration of his career about two and a half years later, and it introduces New Balance increasing its support of the Milos Raonic Foundation.
Milos wore New Balance for the first time at the Brisbane International tournament in Australia. He is the first Canadian man to play in the Wimbledon final, the Australian Open semifinals, and the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Raonic is one of the top players in the Open Era, winning 91% of his service matches to place third all-time. He plays all around the court with a focus on short points due to his shot.
The tennis player has won all of his singles matches on hard courts. He has one of the highest overall victory percentages of all active players at 68%.
7. Timothy Weah – Football
Timothy Weah signed a multi-year deal with New Balance in 2019. Timothy is a professional football player who plays for the League 1 club Lille and the United States Team.
He joins New Balance in brilliant form after playing a crucial role on the dynamic LOSC Lille team that won France’s Ligue 1 championship.
Weah is creating a lifestyle clothes promotion line with New Balance. According to Espn, Timothy stated because of the new generation of New Balance athletes, he is happy to be part of it and make history.
Tim revels in his passion for footwear by wearing New Balance Furon v6+ boots during games and the newest brand collaborations during off days.
The New Balance Furon v6+ is the perfect boot for the player that values having a strong connection to the game by being able to feel the ball and the ground.
Tim spent the 2019 season on loan at Celtic, where he double-won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup. He joined Lille and won the 2021 Trophee des Champions
He received his first senior international cap for the United States in March 2018. He played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was a member of the team that won the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
8. Jamal Murray – Basketball
Jamal Murray sign a multi year sneaker deal with New Balance in 2020. Jamal is a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA.
Murray and New Balance made their partnership official just hours before the Denver Nuggets’ Christmas match against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.
He wore the New Balance Two-Way, a new design shoe, throughout the match. He also wore New Balance’s cutting-edge shoes, the Two Wxy V3.
According to Slamonline, he stated that he wanted to do something different with his new deal with New Balance.
Murray predicted that his own shoe would drop in 2021 before the game.
He joins a small but expanding group of NBA players who have sponsored New Balance, including Kawhi, Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs, and Darius Bazley of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Murray is one of the league’s shining young talents, especially in his postseason success for the Walt Disney World Resort bubble team in 2019–20.
9. Aaron Nesmith – Basketball
Aaron Nesmith signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the New Balance in 2021. Aaron is a professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.
He is the company’s eighth NBA player endorsement deal since returning to the sport in 2019.
The company’s global director Pat Cassidy stated that “We are pleased to welcome Aaron to the New Balance Family. His all-in mindset is going to provide for an interesting relationship for New Balance both on and off the court.”
After joining the New Balance, Aaron stated said “It was a dream come true, the chance to join the New Balance family was absolutely amazing, it was super exciting, and it was also a really easy choice because of what they’re doing in the basketball space.
They very unique compared to other shoe companies, in the approach that they’re taking. Aaron wore new balance shoes Wxy V3.
10. Harvey Elliott – Football
Harvey Elliott signed a sponsorship deal with global sportswear leader New Balance in 2021. Harvey is a professional football player who plays for the Premier League club of Liverpool.
After joining New Balance, he stated that “Signing with New Balance is a massive step in his career, it feels good to be part of a global brand.
New Balance general manager Kenny McCallum said that he is excited to have one of the most talented young athletes join the New Balance family.
Elliott wore the new Furon 6+ by New Balance in his games. His game is highlighted by a great speed of performance, to which he adds a certain elegance to the play.
He is very good at dribbling, especially in the steering to re-enter. Elliott is regarded as one of the top prospects in English football because of his style of play.
Elliott enjoys watching NBA games and has been to a number of Boston Celtics games. He made his under-21 team debut on March 25, 2022, in a 4-1 victory over Andorra at Dean Court in preparation for the 2023 U21 EURO.
11. Eugenie Bouchard – Tennis
Eugenie Bouchard signed in a multi-year sponsorship deal with New Balance in 2021. Eugenie is a Canadian tennis player who became the first Canadian to represent Canada at the 2014 Wimbledon Championship.
The Canadian’s new t-shirt, which has the phrase “Genie” and the number 22 on the back, was released in collaboration with New Balance.
Also, New Balance has introduced the Bandier x New Balance 327, a pair of white and tan sneakers with leather overlays.
Eugenie shared the design of the t-shirt on her Instagram account. She expressed her great delight about joining the New Balance family.
She has always been a follower of the brand’s history and believes that New Balance is currently one of the trendiest, most creative companies in the sports world.
Bouchard won the girls’ title at Wimbledon in 2012 and was recognized as the 2013 WTA Tour’s WTA Newcomer of the Year.
She achieved a career-high rating of No. 5 and became the first tennis player from Canada to be placed in the top 5 in singles competition.
12. Tyrese Maxey – Basketball
Tyrese Maxey signs a multi-year contract with New Balance in 2023 as his first-ever career-related footwear sponsorship. Tyrese is a professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.
He is the ideal candidate to represent the company due to his attitude toward the game, passion, and leadership both on and off the court.
According to Newbalance, Naveen Lokesh, head of Global Sports Marketing Basketball stated that “We’re pleased to welcome Tyrese to the New Balance family as one of the league’s most talented young players.”
Tyrese said that New Balance is completely changing the game, and I’m excited to be a part of such a forward-thinking and imaginative company.
He will easily make a mark with New Balance as the newest brand ambassador due to his ambition and dedication to succeeding at a high level.
During his senior year, he was a McDonald’s All-American and Texas Mr. Baketball. Maxey was named for the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship in Canada’s men’s national under-19 basketball team of the United States.
13. Gabby Thomas – Track And Field
Gabby Thomas signed a multi-year deal with New Balance in 2018. Gabby is a track and field athlete who won bronze and silver medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
She runs in the New Balance Vazee Verge and Sigma running shoes and works out in the Fresh Foam 890 and 1400v4 running shoes.
Thomas wore New Balance throughout her career at Harvard. She is the only female sprinter to join the New Balance.
In 2018, she posted a video on her Twitter account stating that “Happy to announce that I am officially #TeamNB. It’s been an amazing three years with Harvard track and field, but I have decided to forgo my last year of eligibility and run professionally. Looking forward to where this next chapter in my life takes me!
Its been an amazing three years with Harvard track and field, but I have decided to forgo my last year of eligibility and run professionally. Looking forward to where this next chapter in my life takes me! ? https://t.co/h95C5N1nZ6
Thomas wore the New Balance Vazee Sigma and Vazee Verge, and she practices in the Fresh Foam 890 and 1400v4 models for competition.
She finished second in the DI NCAA Outdoor National Track & Field Championships and first at the 2018 NCAA Indoor 200-meter Championships.
Gabby was recognized as the Ivy League’s Most Outstanding Track Performer for the 2017 and 2018 academic years.
14. Robinson Cano – Baseball
Robinson Cano signed a multi-year deal with New Balance in 2015. Robinson is a professional baseball player who played in MLB for the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres.
He received footwear for the field, off-field apparel, and support for his RC22 Foundation’s charitable work from New Balance. Additionally, New Balance provided footwear and clothing to kids at Cano’s RC22 Dream School.
According to Mark Cavanaugh, general manager of sports marketing at New Balance, Robinson is an exceptional athlete who regularly performs at the highest level while making the game look simple.
He is a great fit for our company due to his perfect on-field performance and sincere passion for helping others.
New Balance gifted him a shoe trophy case set on July 10, 2017. Cano posted a photo on his Instagram account and thanked New Balance for the gift.
He won a gold medal and the Most Valuable Player Award at the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) event.
Robinson has also won the Silver Slugger Award five times, the Gold Glove Award twice, and the MLB All-Star Game eight times.
15. Sadio Mane – Football
Sadio Mane signed a long-term deal with New Balance in 2021. Sadio is a professional football player who plays for the Senegal national team and the Bundesliga club Bayern Munch.
He has been the face of New Balance for the past three years, and now comes word that the Liverpool player has committed to a long-term partnership with the company.
Mane was given a special pair of custom Furon 6+ “Hunt For More” shoes by New Balance to celebrate the extension of his contract.
He won the English Premier League, European Champions League, and World Championships while wearing the Furon boot from New Balance.
Sadio stated that “Joining New Balance has been great for me, I have achieved a lot. I’m proud to have worked with the brand on a custom, unique boot. I’m still hungry for success and hopefully, there are lots more to come from me.”
He placed fifth in 2019 and fourth in 2020 in The Best FIFA Men’s Player rankings. The football player ranked 2nd in the 2019 and 2022 Ballon d’Or competitions.
16. Zach LaVine – Basketball
Zach LaVine has signed a multi-year apparel and footwear endorsement deal with the New Balance in 2022. Zach is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the NBA.
He is honored by New Balance with the “Windy City” colorway of a new sneaker. LaVine is wearing some of the top basketball shoes available while representing the company on the court due to New Balance.
As Zach signs in with New Balance he stated that “New Balance is investing in me, not just as a player but also as an individual. I wanted to work with a company that is as dedicated to advancing my interests outside of the court.”
LaVine, whose multiyear Adidas contract expires in 2021, joins the growing New Balance, which has already recruited well-known players like Kawhi Leonard and Dejounte Murray.
He wore the New Balance TWO WXY for the Three-Point Contest and All-Star Game during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.
Zach joined the NBA after being selected as one of the Pac-12 Conference’s top freshman.
He won the league’s Slam Dunk Contest while playing for Minnesota as a rookie, and he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
17. Trayvon Bromell – Track And Field
Trayvon Bromell signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance in 2015. Trayvon is a professional track and field athlete who specializes in sprinting events.
After joining New Balance, he stated “I’m thrilled to join the New Balance family, a brand with that I share many of the same values and principles.”
The vice president of running at new balance Tom Carleo said “Trayvon’s accomplishments as a young athlete make him a great addition to Team New Balance.”
Bromell became the first American teen to qualify for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing with his 9.84-second run at the U.S.A. Track and Field Championships in Eugene.
He has competed in and won numerous running events while wearing New Balance shoes.
He represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics and won the global indoor 60 m championship in 2016. He was named as the 2013 Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
18. Bukayo Saka – Football
Bukayo Saka has signed a multi-year deal with New Balance in 2021. Bukayo is a professional footballer who plays for the Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team.
The American company chose Saka to be one of the faces for both the present and the future, on which New Balance hopes to develop a path of the global image.
New Balance unveiled a new custom signature football boot for Saka. He got two unique signature footwear from New Balance in March 2022.
As he sign in with the New Balance he stated “I am so proud to have grown up in Ealing. Everyone from the West knows what it means to represent our side of London, it’s a special feeling.”
The signature shoes Bukayo Saka’ Furon v7 boots have red and silver colors for a stunning look. He has won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield, becoming one of Arsenal’s most famous and influential players.
Saka was a member of England’s squad at UEFA Euro 2020 and represented the country at the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
19. Dejounte Murray – Basketball
Dejounte Murray signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance in 2019. Dejounte is a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
Murray posted a video on his Twitter and stated that “He chose New Balance to be different. This is only the beginning and I’m excited to be a part of the family for years to come.”
He joins the former Sours teammate and current clippers forward Kawhi Leonard as a part of the New Balance family. During his playing career and signing with New Balance Murray wore the New Balance Two-Way V3 shoes.
Murray worked with New Balance to launch the 327 Heat Up Collection, which was inspired by Murray’s hometown of Seattle. The collection includes two pairs of the New Balance 327, both with a multi-color approach.
He was selected 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft. As a freshman in 2015-16,Murray earned second-team Pac-12 all-conference honors for the Washington Huskies.
20. Femke Bol – Track And Field
Femke Bol has signed a sponsorship deal with apparel and footwear New Balance in 2017. Femke is a track and field athlete who won the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medal in the 400m hurdles.
She has thanked the New Balance team for their support through her Instagram account. Bol stated “It’s not just a brand that supports me, it’s a team. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it.
I already had your support since 2017 and look where we’re at now! Always making sure I have everything I need and showing me your support not just during competition season, but always checking up.”
At the 2022 World Championship, she won silver. She became the first female athlete to win both the 400 m and 400 m hurdles at a major championship at the 2022 European Championships.
Femke is a world record holder in the 300m hurdles and a Dutch record holder in the 400m out and indoor.