This post was updated at 3:35 p.m.
Kyrie Irving visited the Anta Museum in Xiamen, China today. The appearance follows the announcement that he inked a deal with the Chinese athletic brand this summer.
Anta confirmed in July that Irving — who parted ways with Nike in December 2022 after an over 10-year partnership — had signed with the footwear brand. At the time, his Nike deal ended after he was engulfed in controversy for his refusal to denounce antisemitism after sharing a link on social media to the documentary “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America,” which contained anti-semitic statements.
Photos (read: see below) of the Dallas Mavericks guard wearing Anta shoes in June initially sparked speculation of a potential collaboration.
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The NBA star hit the museum on Monday sporting a pair of understated white sneakers featuring a thick platform sole.
The rest of his outfit consisted of a ribbed off-white cardigan sweater accented with dark purple and gold and quilted ivory pants boasting an eye-catching black print all over and front flap pockets on the thighs.
Irving’s sweater was emblazoned with an ‘A’ on the chest and designed with fringe on the sleeves. Underneath it, he wore a cream-colored T-shirt that read “Know Thyself.” Meanwhile, his pants offered a baggy fit that saw the hem draped over half of his shoes so that the laces were hidden from view.
The former Brooklyn Nets player — who posed for photos and signed autographs for fans — accessorized his look with round, futuristic frames and a shell necklace.
As a part of his new deal with Anta, Irving will not only have his own signature product line but also serve as the brand’s chief creative officer of basketball. Irving’s inaugural on-court shoes and lifestyle footwear will reportedly drop in the first quarter of 2024. Together, they will also launch “Anta x Kyrie Youth Basketball Training Camps” in China and the U.S.
“Being appointed as Anta Basketball’s chief creative officer is more than just a realization of my dreams; in fact, it may be the perfect opportunity for me, an individual who always dreams big and values independent thinking, to leverage my artistic talents to build, create, and unify the culture both on and off court,” Irving said in a statement.
Previously, Irving’s deal with Nike ended last year following his refusal to denounce antisemitism in the face of public backlash after sharing a link to the film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America” on his social media. He later apologized after the Brooklyn Nets suspended him.
“While doing research on YHWH, I posted a Documentary that contained some false anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and language that were untrue and offensive to the Jewish Race/Religion, and I take full accountability and responsibly for my actions,” Irving wrote via Instagram. “I am grateful to have a big platform to share knowledge and I want to move forward by having an open dialogue to learn more and grow from this.”
Irving added, “to all Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize.”
In a statement to FN, Nike suspended the release of his Kyrie 8 signature sneaker. “At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism. To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone,” Nike said in a statement sent to FN.
