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Minnesota Timberwolves point guard LaMelo Ball is launching his newest signature shoe exclusively in Puerto Rico this week. Basketball has long been woven into Puerto Rico’s culture, and LaMelo’s signature line has built a particularly strong following on the island over the past few years. Enough that PUMA decided the very first MB.06 colorway to see daylight should be made for Puerto Rico specifically, before anyone else gets a look.
The shoe’s tongue is stamped with a small Puerto Rican flag next to a holographic nickname script, reading “Melo” on one shoe and “Heem” on the other. “Heem” is one of LaMelo’s recurring personal catchphrases and has appeared on previous PUMA releases, including the MB.04 “Heem.” The heel carries a halo-and-wings graphic alongside the phrase “Not From Here” worked into the collar in red script. The colorway itself runs a light, sky-blue base through a rippling water-inspired pattern that shifts into a deeper blue underfoot, with the same red-white-blue palette as a nod to the Puerto Rican flag itself.
Alongside the MB.06, PUMA’s also releasing a “Puerto Rico” edition of the LaFrancé silhouette created in collaboration with Melo’s streetwear brand of the same name, giving the island two exclusive styles rather than just the one headline shoe.
LaMelo and PUMA are hosting Jangueo en Bayamó this Friday, July 31st. “Jangueo,” Puerto Rican slang for a hangout, sets the tone for a community event built around the island’s love for basketball as much as the product itself. It’s where fans will get first access to the special-edition footwear collection, with pairs of the MB.06 also available in limited quantities at PUMA’s three Puerto Rico outlet locations, while supplies last.
Following the Puerto Rico-exclusive launch, the first global release of the PUMA MB.06 will arrive in September via PUMA.com and select retailers. Check out the “Puerto Rico” colorway below and stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for more.
PUMA MB.06 “Puerto Rico”
Release Date: July 31, 2026
PUMA LaFrancé “Puerto Rico”
Release Date: July 31, 2026
