The greatest of the great would tell you there’s no room for a single day away from the grind, even in the offseason. Lest they attend to that 969 lifestyle in the summer months, for now, LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets can kick back and unwind after a season that may not have ended in storybook fashion yet nonetheless marked a real step forward for the young outfit.
For your local runs or pickup games this summer, LaMelo remains very much in contention. He and PUMA are foregrounding the MB.05 Lo for the seasons ahead, the latest in a series over the past few years where his signatures chop down for the warmer months. Steadily, PUMA’s designers have gotten bolder and bolder in doing so, however. Here, the Lo cut builds off an inventive lace shroud that exposes the laces on either side while still keeping the heady prints and patterns expected of any Ball shoe intact.
As we’ve already seen with the “Flourish,” the usual slate of storytelling-driven colorways is expected. Before that, the Big Cat delivers on another longstanding play, letting loose four “Team Bank” options fit for any squad. Of course, Melo’s expressiveness and character seep through even within simpler bounds. Black and white pairs present as the most straightforward, though silver and gold trim energize them in the finer details. It’s the Hornets-style “Dark Amethyst” and an “Ultra Blue” that split the difference between Ball family animation and primary color, still plenty eye-catching even if they’re comparatively restrained.
A concrete release date for the PUMA MB.05 Lo “Team Bank” hasn’t been announced by PUMA, but select retailers already have this set for sale. Check the “Where To Buy” widgets below to grab yours from Dick’s Sporting Goods; men’s pairs in all four colorways clock in at $120.
