Name Game: New Balance boasted that it was "Endorsed by No One" in the 1990s. Today, its stable of elite athletes includes presumed No. 1 NBA pick Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani and Coco Gauff.

New Balance’s best-selling running sneakers are simple — but plenty sought after. The brand’s growth spurt resulted in a number of new numbered designs: the 550 and 650, for example. But I still ...