Mavs Star Kyrie Irving Signs 'Unique' Long-Term Shoe Deal; Full Details
Just four days after officially signing his new, three-year $126 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving is now jumping back into the shoe endorsement game after an eight-month hiatus.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Irving is signing a five-year shoe endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear brand ANTA, and the terms of his deal are 'unique.'
"Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving has signed a five-year endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear brand ANTA, plus the unique position of Chief Creative Officer at the company, industry sources told @TheAthletic @Stadium. Irving’s management company, A11Even, negotiated the deal," Charania tweeted.
"The lucrative new shoe deal for Irving will also give him the ability to recruit/sign players and other collaborators, and bring a level of manufacturing to the United States to kickstart ANTA’s process to fully distribute in US."
Here’s what Irving had to say about his new partnership (h/t Boardroom): “I’m incredibly excited about this collaboration. The first step in becoming partners is to share the same dreams, goals, and missions. ANTA’s rapid development over the years, openness to creativity, willingness to embrace family and teamwork, expertise in areas like product innovation and manufacturing processes have left a remarkable impression on not just me, but also my A11Even team who will work side by side with me in creating something truly generationally special.”
Boardroom’s Nick DePaula added that Irving’s deal includes “signature product releases, [and will] launch ANTA x KYRIE Youth basketball camps around the world.”
Irving had been with Nike since his rookie year in 2011, but that partnership ended abruptly last year in December after he made a post on social media that contained a link to an antisemitic film. After Nike dropped Irving, he still wore his signature shoes in games, but he covered up the 'swoosh' with tape that had personally-written messages on it.
The eight-time All-Star is no longer a free agent in the sneaker industry, and the Mavs are glad he's no longer an NBA free agent as well. In 20 games for the Mavs, Irving averaged 27 points, five rebounds and six assists while shooting 51 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from deep and 94.7 percent from the free-throw line.
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