New Balance Releases James Worthy 740 Worthy Express

In honor of the NBA’s #1 pick in 1982, New Balance is relaunching a classic basketball shoe with a basketball legend’s name on it – the James Worthy 740 Worthy Express. A modern take on a classic silhouette, these shoes feature a full-grain leather upper, an EVA midsole, and a padded ankle. Worthy himself will be on hand to launch the release tonight.

A former All-Star for the Lakers, Worthy earned the nickname ‘Big Game James’ during his collegiate career. In the NCAA Championship, he scored 28 points while stealing the ball from Fred Brown, which led to the Lakers selecting him as the number one pick. His legendary play earned him the title of ‘Big Game James.’

Worthy and New Balance have a long history together. Worthy was the first athlete to endorse a New Balance sneaker, and the P740 OG “Worthy Express” quickly became one of the most famous sneakers in basketball history. Big Game James wore this style during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and in 1988, he made history by winning the NBA Finals MVP award in the Worthy Express.

The NBA’s Hall of Fame has voted Worthy as one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players. He retired from the league in 1994 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003. His game-worn shoes are from the 1985-86 season, when he averaged twenty-one points per game and shot 57.9% from the field. His Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals that year, but the Rockets snatched the championship.

Worthy’s performance as a basketball legend was unparalleled. As a small forward for the Lakers, he was able to make his presence felt in the frontcourt and backcourt with his exceptional scoring abilities. He averaged 22 points per game, which was unprecedented for a player of his stature. He was named MVP of the Finals in 1988 and was rewarded with a million-dollar deal.

Kawhi Leonard, a superstar in the NBA, has partnered with New Balance to release a new basketball shoe. Leonard, who signed with the company in February, helped to design the shoe, which was revealed in a February 2019 commercial. A new basketball shoe starring Kawhi Leonard and James Worthy, the New Balance OMN1S Kawhi Leonard, has launched a reimagined NBA story.

The P740 Worthy is one of the most iconic sneakers in New Balance’s history. Originally a P740 running shoe, it has been updated for the modern age with a fresh design by Worthy and Packer Shoes. This new iteration of the classic P740 is priced at $120. The New Balance P740 Worthy Express is available now at Packer Shoes.