NBA: Sneaker free agent Kyrie Irving teases new shoe deal
FILE – Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks is seen prior to game four of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Kyrie Irving has been teasing basketball fans with a possible new sneaker deal with Anta.
The Dallas Mavericks guard caused a buzz on social medial after he was seen wearing the Anta Shock Wave Pro 5 during his annual basketball camp last week. He also sported an Anta hoodie during a recent visit to the Drew League.
NBA reporter Brandon Robinson, however, reported that Irving has yet to sign a deal and is still exercising his sneaker free agency.
Chinese brand Anta has also yet to make an official announcement about signing the 31-year-old point guard.
Three weeks ago, Irving announced on his Instagram live video that he will be signing a new shoe deal “very, very soon.”
Irving has been a sneaker free agent for the past seven months but he still used his Nike signature shoes with a covered-up Swoosh for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Nike cut ties with the eight-time NBA All-star after 12 years as the shoe company canceled his ninth signature sneaker last December after he made a social media post, which contained a link to an antisemitic movie.
If Irving signs with Anta, he will join the Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson and Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward, who both have a signature line with the brand.
Irving is also set to become an NBA free agent on June 30 amid the Mavericks’ plan to re-sign him to a long-term contract.
Dallas, which got the star point guard before the trade deadline in February, missed the playoffs with a 38-44 record in Irving’s first team up with Luka Doncic.
