Over half a year ago, Nike and Kyrie Irving decided to go separate ways after working together for almost 13 years. The latest deal between the two was set to run until the end of the 22-23 season.
However, Nike decided to cut the deal short and pull his Kyrie 8 signature shoe and other silhouettes off shelves after Irving posted some anti-semitic views on his Twitter. However, Kyrie has now found a new home for the next five years. He has decided to sign with ANTA Sports, an athletic sportswear company founded in 1991.
The Chinese brand’s name is small in the world of basketball at the moment, although by signing Kyrie and having Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, and Alex Caruso as other endorsers of the brand, it’s fair to say that ANTA Sports is on the rise. Irving had recently been spotted wearing ANTA footwear, fuelling speculation that he would be putting pen-to-paper on a deal with them, then ANTA Sports took to Instagram to announce their latest partnership.
It’s been confirmed that signature shoes are part of the half-decade business plan as the first ANTA Kyrie model is expected in the first quarter of 2024, which would immediately bolster ANTA’s business in the United States as Kyrie’s Nike footwear was among the best-sellers annually worldwide.
