The Dallas Mavericks’ star point guard Kyrie Irving has agreed to a shoe deal and “partnership” with Chinese sportswear company ANTA. The five-year agreement will see Irving get a signature shoe while also collaborating with the company in various other ways.
Irving will serve as ANTA’s Chief Creative Officer, recruit other players, and work on launching ANTA x KYRIE Youth basketball camps.
ANTA is currently the world’s number-one sportswear company in the world by revenue. It is also the third-largest producer of sports apparel and equipment, trailing only the industry’s heavyweights Nike and Adidas.
ANTA already has several prominent basketball stars under its wing. The list includes Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney, Charlotte Hornets’ Gordon Hayward, and Chicago Bulls’ Alex Caruso.
Kyrie Irving was previously endorsed by Nike, signing with the company shortly after he entered the NBA in 2011. His signature shoes were repeatedly among the best-selling among NBA players until the two sides parted ways last year.
Irving also recently signed a new contract with the Mavs that will keep him in Dallas for the next three seasons. The 31-year-old player split the last season between the Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks, averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 60 games.
