“Nike did him dirty.” Almost two years ago, Kyrie Irving’s fans fumed with rage over the mogul sportswear brand. Why? Because they terminated the Dallas Mavericks star’s contract over a controversial link, he shared online. The Kyrie series (1 to 7) were some of Nike’s hottest-selling products, but, the separation became inevitable. And now that Irving has revoked and reformed his ground in his ‘shoe universe’, his successful collaboration with ANTA is doing wonders!

It’s not surprising or new to find NBA stars in China promoting their shoe brands. James Harden, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, and others visited China in August to connect with the country’s hoop-loving youth for Jordan Brand. But for Irving, his visit to the Land of Dragons was more than a promotion. He was visiting as the Chief Creative Officer of ANTA Basketball, reporting to its headquarters.

Kyrie Irving’s ANTA Sports is adding to the worries of sportswear moguls

Kyrie has been the ‘CCO’ since 2023 and debuted his KAI 1 shoes last season. The 8x NBA All-Star has learned to lead a shoe brand through tumultuous ways. Now that he has found his rhythm, ANTA is brilliantly competing against big guns like Nike and Adidas in China.

“This is a startup company in America. Anta is a startup. It’s not a startup in China,” the Mavericks guard told Andscape. “So, we’re trying to compete with some of the bigger juggernauts. It’s one of the toughest things to do. So, you got to have some people that are thorough, morally strong, have great integrity, have great families, and also love what they do.”

As per Jing Daily’s August report, Anta recorded $4.7 billion in revenue between January and June 2024, surpassing Nike China by 20% and Adidas China by an impressive 160%. It raises the question: what is Kai’s secret to building a successful shoe brand?

“The ingredient is being fearless and also being proud of your work and loving your team as well because there’s a lot of hard work that gets done that you don’t get to see,” Irving said. “Especially as a leader. I’m learning that as a leader, there are a lot of little nuances, little things that happen that I don’t get to see.”

But this is just Kyrie’s take on his efforts for ANTA, as their prestigious CCO. Besides, it’s the hardworking employees who are going in and out of the market to understand the trends. Thus, Uncle Drew is making it a point to appreciate them as much as he can.

Kyrie wants ‘everyone’ to be proud of his shoes with ANTA

The 32-year-old 8x NBA All-Star has found his recipe for success with ANTA and it is fearlessness. Well, we know how Kyrie is on the court, so you can say he’s resonating his athleticism and valor into his designs! However, a quick appreciation for the employees is key. After all, they are the true warriors behind mammoth projects. “I try my best to make sure I appreciate my Anta employees. They’re doing a lot of it, man. A lot of the legwork, a lot of groundwork. I do the stuff on the court when I’m in that office,” Kai shared.

He says that the employees and everyone associated with ANTA know he wants the best products out there. What’s his explanation behind such an obvious demand? “I want the best, not only of them, but I want the families to be proud to wear our stuff, too,” Kyrie Irving proudly opines! The former NBA champ wants to be successful with his KAI series with ANTA, just like his Kyrie Series found fame with Nike.

Thus, Kyrie Irving has found a new home with ANTA, and it’s paying off- monetarily, emotionally, visibly, and whatnot! His fearlessness and leadership are reshaping the brand’s future. As he leads from the front, his success with the KAI series is proof that hard work, passion, and dedication make a winning formula. ANTA is on the rise, and with Irving at the helm, the sky’s the limit.