New Balance might be most-loved for their dad shoe vibes but over the past couple of years they've returned to basketball for inspiration and endorsements. Without missing a beat in their retro runner line up, both modern performance basketball shoes from New Balance, and their retro-inspired hoops shoes, have taken on a life of their own. While Kawhi Leonard started the trend of pro hoopers signing to New Balance, their most recent signee, Zach LaVine, puts their total roster number just a couple shy of 20 players. While they're all rocking New Balance on the court, many have been seen in the brand's most popular basketball shoe retro, the NB 550.

The New Balance 550 has become a double-edged sword of success for New Balance. Collaborators like New York City's Aimé Leon Dore and Japan's United Arrows, the general release retro colorways have helped New Balance stay connected to basketball culture between games. The latest colorways of the New Balance 550 have been labeled as "Lakers" colors by the sneaker blogs but the colors seem more aligned with the Phoenix Suns or Indiana Pacers. Nevertheless, both of these white-based colorways will make a perfect addition to your Sneaker Throne when they release in the coming weeks.