Tyrese Haliburton and Puma are taking full advantage of the spotlight of his first NBA Finals appearance, using the opportunity to debut his first signature sneaker.
Designed by Salehe Bembury, the Puma Hali 1 will make its on-court debut for Game 1 of the Indiana Pacers’ matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A tonal mix of pinks and burgundy forms the “Hibiscus” colorway, and a series of organic lines are integrated into the eyestays at midfoot for support. Bembury’s signature fingerprint motif is used for the midsole, and an oversized Puma cat logo sits beneath the collar in the same raised fashion. On the tongue, you’ll then find Halburton’s thematically appropriate globular logo.
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For now, Puma isn’t saying much on the Hali 1 besides confirming Nitro cushioning, as well as “lightweight construction” and “premium craftsmanship.”
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Ahead of the shoe’s unveiling, Bembury briefly delved into the his role in working with Haliburton at Puma. The designer’s first assignment for the brand was to sign a signature athlete, and Bembury said it was Haliburton that was his choice of available athletes to recruit.
“That overrated nonsense from a few weeks ago is probably the best thing that could’ve happened because he’s spent the time subsequent to it showing y’all otherwise,” Bembury wrote, referencing Haliburton being voted as the NBA’s most overrated player in a survey of players conducted by The Athletic. “He is him.”
During Thursday night’s matchup, Haliburton will be squaring off against another player gearing up to release his own signature sneaker debut. After being unveiled in February, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Converse Shai 001 will hit stores in the fall.
The Puma Hali 1, meanwhile, has been confirmed for a September release. Footwear News will keep you updated as more information on the shoe becomes available.
Tyrese Haliburton Puma Hali 1
The Puma Hali 1 was designed by Salehe Bembury. Courtesy of Puma
Tyrese Haliburton Puma Hali 1
Nitro cushioning is used for the midsole of the Puma Hali 1. Courtesy of Puma
Tyrese Haliburton Puma Hali 1
Bembury utilized his signature fingerprint motif for the Puma Hali 1’s midsole. Courtesy of Puma
Tyrese Haliburton Puma Hali 1
More details on the Puma Hali 1’s tech will come leading up to its September release. Courtesy of Puma