New Balance recalls Kawhi 3, Fresh Foam BB hoops shoes due to quality concerns

New Balance recalled two recently released basketball sneakers, Kawhi Leonard’s Kawhi 3 and the Fresh Foam BB, from retail stores and e-commerce channels due to potential quality issues.

It was revealed that the Kawhi 3 could have been susceptible to eyelet damage, while the Fresh Foam BB was prone to cracks on its outsole.

According to New Balance Japan, users of the Kawhi 3, which was released on Feb. 10, may have deformed or damaged the material used for the eyelets while wearing them.

New Balance Japan offered refunds to those who had experienced issues.

Meanwhile, New Balance Japan received reports of cracks in the outsole of some of the same model number products sold in other countries for Fresh Foam BB, which is worn by NBA players including Zach LaVine.

Fresh Foam BB has been on sale since February 2023.

Although no similar cases have been confirmed for products sold in Japan, New Balance Japan suspended future sales of the Fresh Foam BB at the discretion of our US headquarters.

While the Kawhi 3 does not appear to be in stock online at any US retailer, the Fresh Foam BB “All-Star” colorway remains on sites like Foot Locker for $130.