Kyrie Irving’s First Anta Signature Sneaker Set for Release

Anta has officially confirmed a March release for its first signature shoe for Kyrie Irving, the Anta Kai 1.

Irving’s Anta debut will launch in the purple and pink “Artist on the Court” colorway that he wore on the court in early-February. Jaylen Brown, who isn’t affiliated with any brand, also wore the Kai 1 while playing in the NBA All-Star Game.

Egyptian hieroglyphs, which Irving has long been known to employ, appear throughout the sneaker’s design, while his new signature logo stands out in gold on the tongue. The midsole features TPU foam targeted for stability at the heel, as well as a carbon fiber plate. The knit upper features a colorful pattern above the toe and at the lateral midfoot to match the multi-color laces, and a strap goes over the laces at midfoot for added security.

The Kai 1 has been highly anticipated by fans, despite the fraught context that led Irving to sign with Anta after being dropped by Nike. After making eight signature sneakers for Irving, Nike ended its relationship with the player because of his sharing a documentary featuring antisemitic beliefs and initial foot-dragging to denounce them. Irving had already been a controversial figure for wading into conspiracy theories, including in his refusal to be vaccinated and his indulgence of flat Earth theories. But much like Kanye West, now known as Ye, and Adidas, antisemitism proved to be the final straw.

The Anta Kai 1 “Artist on the Court” will release March 6 through Anta’s website, as well as in-store at Sneaker Politics, Extra Butter and Nice Kicks. Pricing is set at $125.