‘Keeping the money in the family’: Kyrie Irving makes history as first athlete to sign with dad, months after being fired from Nike

On June 4, Kyrie Irving’s dad received an early and unprecedented Father’s Day gift from his son, the Dallas Mavericks superstar.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Kryie’s father, Drederick Irving, has signed a first-of-its-kind footwear deal with ANTA Sports. The matter was announced a couple of days before Irving and the Dallas Mavericks played against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The first match is scheduled for June 6.

Anta Sports is a multinational corporation headquartered in Jinjiang, China. Founded in 1991, Anta is the third largest sports goods manufacturer in the world, after Nike and Adidas. Anta sponsors quite a few athletes and sports around the world, including boxer Manny Pacquiao, Gordon Hayward of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors. Kyrie Irving and Anta Sports have released their first shoes together – a model ANTA KAI 1in 2024

According to New York TimesIrving will not be only a sponsor of ANTA Sports, but he can be the company’s creative director. This title gives him the flexibility to negotiate various partnerships, including the deal he made for his father.

The deal between the sports equipment brand and Drederick is believed to be the first-ever deal in which knowledgeable athlete has signed a shoe deal with his father.

Basketball has been synonymous with the Irving name for generations. Drederick was a school basketball player at Boston University before moving abroad to play professionally in Australia.

Before signing with ANTA Sports in 2023, Kyrie was a Nike athlete. However, his collaboration with the sportswear giant was interrupted in 2022 when he re-posted a link on social media to a book and film containing anti-Semitic content.

“Kyrie is no longer a Nike athlete,” a Nike spokesperson said he told ESPN December 5, 2022

But Irving’s agent characterised the separation as a mutual decision.

“We have mutually decided to part ways and wish Nike all the best in their future endeavors” – Shetellia Riley Irving, Kyrie’s agent, he told CNBC then.

Nike initially decided to suspend its collaboration with Irving and announced that the Kyrie 8 signature shoe wouldn’t be released. However, the company later concluded that the six-time NBA All-Star had crossed the line.

“Kyrie crossed the line. It’s kind of as simple as that,” Nike co-founder Phil Knight told CNBC on November 10, 2022. “He made some statements that we just can’t stand by, and that’s why we ended our relationship. It didn’t bother me.”

The overwhelming majority of NBA players wear Nike sneakers, with an estimated 68% of players selecting the brand for the 2022-23 season.

“To anyone who (ever) has spent their hard-earned money on anything I have ever spent, I consider you FAMILY and we are connected forever.” Irving wrote in a social media post from December 5, 2022. “It’s time to show how powerful we are as a community.”

Following news of Kyrie and Drederick’s historic shoe deal, fans shared their reactions on social media.

“The world may give it its all, but it will never, EVER make me hate Kyrie” – one X account he stated.

“Drederick 1 will go crazy” – fan predicted.

“To be able to sign with my father as a signature athlete is just beautiful. Something Nike would never do, another great ANTI move” – one other one the person said.

“Keeping the money in the family” – social media user he was joking.

According to Sharania, shoes signed with Drederick’s name are to appear in Foot Locker stores from September.