Those who tuned into the Mavericks 24-25 season opener might’ve noticed something different about Kyrie Irving. While you’re unquestionably familiar with the ANTA KAI 1 by now, the superstar took the court in a never-before-seen colorway crafted with the help of one of the industry’s most famous customs artists.
The Shoe Surgeon was tasked with drumming up a one-of-a-kind edition for the occasion, drawing from the Mavericks’ throwback 90s jerseys for a typically eye-catching edition. The artist passed over the geometric patterns that usually dot the model for a more tradition mesh foundation, but don’t mistake that for any less attention to detail. The thin graphic layers in the upper, each section of the three-part midsole, and multi-color woven laces elucidate the Surgeon’s faithfulness to the flashy design language of the KAI 1.
Notably, this is far from the first link-up between Irving and the designer. During ANTA’s press preview in China this Summer, the Surgeon took on pairs of the KAI 1, KAI 1 Speed and KAI Tribe; multiple sets of laces creating an uncanny profile on each.
As promised, these will remain exclusive to Kyrie’s closet. However, during that aforementioned press preview, ANTA promised a heavy load of releases as the NBA season drew on. Keep a close eye on our ANTA KAI 1 landing page for further updates and check out detailed images of The Surgeon’s work below.
