It’s reported that Dallas Maverick’s star Kyrie Irving has made a bold move by signing his own father, Drederick, to his ANTA signature shoe line. It seems like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to the entrepreneurial spirit in the Irving family.
Irving, known for his flashy moves on the court and killer crossover, has been making waves in the sneaker world with his ANTA signature shoe line. And now, he’s taking it to the next level by bringing his own family into the mix. Drederick Irving, a former professional basketball player himself, must be proud to see his son following in his footsteps and making a name for himself both on and off the court.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported on Tuesday that Irving signed his father, Drederick to a signature shoe deal, marking the first time an athlete has signed their dad to a shoe deal.
Charania added that Drederick Irving’s shoe will be released in Foot Locker in September. The elder Irving played college basketball at Boston University and professionally in Australia, where Kyrie was born.
Irving’s father has been a frequent attendee at the eight-time All-Star’s games throughout his career. He watched Irving help lead the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals, where they will face the Boston Celtics.
“He’s my biggest fan,” Irving said of his father last year, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News. “One of my harshest critics. But he’s always been honest.”
Irving has sported multiple editions of his ANTA line on the court this season, most recently debuting his “Chief Hélà” colorway during the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Irving signed a five-year deal with ANTA in July 2023 after being dropped by Nike in December 2022. He was named Chief Creative Officer of the brand and was given the ability to recruit and sign other people to the company, per Kellen Bulger of the Dallas Morning News.
It will be interesting to see how this partnership plays out and what kind of impact it will have on the sneaker industry. Will we see a new trend of athletes partnering with their family members for their signature shoe lines? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – Irving is definitely making a statement with this move.
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