Kyrie Irving had a rocky time in 2022 owing to the sudden suspension of the Nike contract. Subsequently, the apparel giant cut all ties with the former Nets point guard. The eight-time NBA All-Star player is with the Dallas Mavericks now on a three-year, $126 million contract.

The Nike deal hit Irving on a different level. They were set to release his latest line of Kyrie 8. The contract, set to expire in October 2023, was also canceled leading to Irving being suspended from the Nets as well. It’s safe to say that the one-time champion couldn’t feel any less of a champion then.

Irving’s latest shoe deal just might be the four-leaf clover he needed

Every failure is a stepping stone to success. No one understands this better than businessmen and, yes, athletes. As much as it hurt Irving, he didn’t stop to dwell on it. Rather, he took it in his stride and moved forward. The result was a five-year endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear brand, ANTA. In his address to the media (ESPN) before the Mavericks’ road trip, Irving says the shoe deal felt “surreal“.

Simultaneously, he takes a dig at Nike and their lifetime contract partner, LeBron James. “I’m building something new here, and I’m competing with some of the biggest brands in the world. We all know who they are, we all know who they have, some of the best players and best athletes and best artists.”

On May 22, 2003, James signed a seven-year, $87 million contract with Nike and the rest is history. The corporate giant had to know the risk they took when they signed an 18-year-old who had to yet play a game in the pros.

The gamble, as we can see, has paid off. In 2015, Nike signed a historic lifetime contract with LeBron James worth $1 billion. And that’s an approximate value.

Read More: LeBron James’ Former Teammate Gives His Take on How Kyrie Irving Shook the League

Kyrie Irving is excited to learn the ropes of the industry in his new position

Irving’s deal with ANTA comes with the unique position of Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at the company. With it, a whole lot of opportunities. The position will give him a chance to make a bigger impact and a life after basketball. In a Twitter post, he calls this opportunity “#BiggerThanAShoeDeal”.

Irving is already in the process of drawing up plans and focusing on putting together the best team. He knows there is a learning curve to this deal, especially given the international community he is exposed to. But Irving is in it to win.

Irving seems to know how pivotal his role as the CCO in ANTA is. It allows him to sign athletes pushing the division further. Kyrie Irving’s sneakers are popular and with him under ANTA, we can expect the Chinese brand ready to make “shock waves” across the US.

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