[Update 3/19/2024]: We now have news of the Anta Kai 1 “Kaiverse ” colorway! It seems like the pair will be pretty exclusive to the ANTA Beijing store and only 323 pairs will be available. So, if you live in the area, make sure you check out the store on March 23, 2024. Oh, and these babies will retail for $125, just like the ‘Artist on Court’ colorway, so keep that in mind!
The sneaker industry certainly went through lots of changes when it comes to sneaker collabs. Some ended, some were pending, while others kicked off. Now, one of the biggest basketball partnerships ended in 2022, the Nike Kyrie line, but that’s all history now. You see, a while later, Kyrie and Anta announced their partnership! And now, we finally got to have a look at Kyrie’s first signature Anta basketball shoes. So today, we’re gonna tell you all we know about it so far, shall we?
The Nike Kyrie line was a total fan favorite among basketball fans. Whether it’s a backyard or an NBA court kinda game, you’d probably spot a pair of Kyries. However, that all came crashing down around the end of 2022 when Nike suspended the partnership. So, Kyrie shared a link to a movie that contained antisemitic ideas, and all hell broke loose. You see, that was in the midst of all the Kanye drama too. So, long story short, the Nike x Kyrie deal was off, and no more kicks for us.
But our sadness didn’t last very long, because rumors came in that the Chinese brand Anta signed Kyrie! Anyway, the rumors ended up being true with Irving stepping into the court wearing the Anta Shock Wave 5. However, that was a temporary thing, until the first signature came out. And well, the day is here, because we now know that the Anta Kai 1 is underway!
On February 6, 2024, Kyrie Irving stepped out on the court for the Mavericks vs. Nets game in Brooklyn. Now, while his whopping 36 points are impressive as heck, it’s the kicks that drew lots of looks. You see, Kyrie was wearing his first signature shoe, the Anta Kai 1. So, at first sight, the kicks look… very Kyrie! First off, the kicks feature a purple and pink upper, and they’re called “Artist on Court”. Moreover, they feature tribal details that nobody but Kyrie can pull off. In addition to the laces, we have a Velcro strap for extra secure closure.
But now, what do we know about the release of these babies? So far, there is no news about the release date of the kicks. However, we can expect them to drop later this year. And if you’re wondering, they’ll definitely be worth the purchase! Luckily for you, the Anta website is Shopify, and we happen to know a kickass Shopify bot. NSB3 is one of the greatest Shopify bots out there, and when the kicks drop, it’ll come in handy! So make sure you grab your key today, because who knows when the next big shoe drops? Godspeed!
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