With Kyrie Irving filling in for his newest teammate Anthony Davis at All-Star Weekend, the Mavs star guard decided to debut his second signature shoe with his brand partner, the ANTA KAI 2.
Irving’s debut signature model with ANTA has been a strong hit for the brand, earning the Chinese brand significant favor from the global community of hoopers. Already a popular brand in its home country for its over-the-top pseudo-tech aesthetic, ANTA has delivered a proper sequel for Kyrie as he looks to lead Dallas back to the Finals and take it a step further. After teasing the model in December, the nine-time All-Star just debuted his second signature under ANTA.
These first-look images reveal another low-cut design with an emphatic design aesthetic that reflects Irving’s proud Standing Rock Sioux heritage. A distinct pattern appears on the border of the forefoot zig-zag style cuts, while furry shoelaces nod to his connection with the wilderness. Elegant and ornate embroidery and applications further decorate the shoe at the mid-foot and the heel, while the diagonal cuts continue around the lace collar. Though it’s not one-to-one, the dominant purple tonality on this opens the possibility of this being an “Artist on Court” look, mirroring the debut look for the ANTA KAI 1.
A release date for the ANTA KAI 2 has not yet been revealed. While the ANTA KAI 1 first released in March of 2024, we’ve seen brands buck the yearly release cadence plenty in the past, leaving its sequel ambiguous for the time being. We can, however, bank on Kyrie wearing the KAI 2 throughout the remainder of the season. Additional details on the new model will follow.
