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New Balance 480: the code reveals the basketball court

Look at the style code of virtually every 480 and you’ll see it start with BB. That’s no coincidence: at New Balance that prefix stands for basketball, just like with the 550. So the 480 comes from the court, even though these days it’s mostly worn with jeans. It’s one of those cases where the item code tells you more than the product name.

The shape is pure court. Smooth leather over a low cut, a wide N that fills almost the entire side panel, and a thin cupsole with horizontal ribs along the edge. There are a few perforations in the toe, the collar is lightly padded and there’s a small pull tab on the heel. No visible cushioning, no adornment. What you get is a clean white shoe that’s easy to pair and just as easy to keep clean.

Within New Balance the 480 is the accessible side of the court story. The 550 is the better-known basketball classic with its higher sole rim and more paneling; the 480 keeps it simpler and stays closer to the ground. If you want to broaden the comparison: in this segment the Adidas Grand Court and the Nike Court Borough play the same role for their respective brands.

That makes this page especially relevant for anyone looking for a white sneaker that doesn’t immediately read as a fashion object. The 480 doesn’t need to prove anything, and that’s precisely its appeal.

On this page you can see which versions of the New Balance 480 are currently hottest according to the Hypescore, from what price they can be found, and in how many shops they’re in stock.