Kyrie Irving’s $2.6 Billion Nike Legacy and the Anta Deal That’s Redefining His Sneaker Era

Few names are as polarizing—or as influential—in the world of basketball sneakers as Kyrie Irving. Now a star player for the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA guard made headlines when his long-running Nike partnership ended in late 2022.

Following the split, Irving hinted at a fresh chapter in his sneaker journey, teasing a collaboration with Anta Sports, the Chinese athletic brand known for signing elite athletes and expanding its global basketball footprint.

Kyrie Irving, now playing for the Dallas Mavericks, is seen at the 2018 USA Basketball Camp wearing a black Nike tee, camo joggers, and Air Jordan 4 sneakers—years before his Nike contract ended in 2022 and his move to Anta Sports signaled a new era in his sneaker journey (Credit: Sol Tucker / INSTARimages)

Kyrie Irving’s shoes were among Nike’s most successful. The basketball player disclosed on Twitter that the collaboration supposedly generated $2.6 billion in revenue over seven years for Nike.

We’re recapping the Nike x Kyrie Irving collaboration and everything you need to know about the rumors of the next Kyrie Irving shoes coming from Anta Sports.

Kyrie Irving: From Court Legend to Sneaker Industry Game-Changer

Kyrie Irving is a professional American basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who was recently a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

He was named the NBA’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ after the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him as the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Kyrie Irving, an eight-time NBA All-Star and former Rookie of the Year, attends the Uncle Drew premiere in a shimmering burgundy suit jacket, black shirt, and velvet loafers—showcasing his off-court flair and signature mix of polish and personality (Credit: NANCY RIVERA / INSTARimages)

Irving is an eight-time All-Star and has been an All-NBA selection three times, winning the 2016 NBA Championship with the Cavaliers. Basketball fans and commentators consider Irving to be one of the most skilled ball handlers in NBA history.

He was part of Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal. Irving became the fourth member of Team USA to win the NBA championship and the Olympic gold medal in the same year. LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan are the only three other basketball players to have achieved this.

Inside Kyrie Irving’s Billion-Dollar Nike Era

The most popular Kyrie Irving shoes are from his Nike collaborations. Irving’s Nike deal was estimated at $11 million in 2019, and his sneakers were the brand’s second-best-selling line in 2017, behind LeBron James.

The Nike x Kyrie Irving range included several successful collaborations with television shows, including the sell-out SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends collections.

A lineup of Nike Kyrie Low sneakers, including the final “Wolf Grey” colorway released in February 2023 — marking the end of Kyrie Irving’s Nike era with a sleek mix of black, white, and pink tones that highlight the brand’s signature Zoom Air design

Irving recently claimed on Twitter that his sneaker and lifestyle range generated over $2.6 billion in revenue for Nike over its seven-year duration.

He had been a Nike ambassador from his rookie season until late 2022, when he was accused of antisemitic behavior, suspended for eight games by the NBA, and had his Nike contract canceled.

This cancellation cast doubt on the future of Kyrie Irving’s shoes. Almost 70% of NBA players wear Nike sneakers, with Kyrie Irving’s shoes being among the most popular styles for professional players.

Over 160 players wore the ‘Kyrie 7’ sneakers during gameplay, with dozens more wearing the more affordable Kyrie Low sneakers.

The Nike Kyrie 7 lineup — one of the most popular models in Irving’s Nike collection — seen here in vibrant blue, classic black, and bold orange colorways

Nike’s cancellation of Irving’s contract in late 2022 meant that the planned launch of his next signature shoe, the Kyrie 9, was ultimately shelved. However, tensions between the athlete and the brand had been brewing for months.

Unofficial images of the Kyrie 8—later renamed the Nike Kyrie Infinity—surfaced online as early as July 2021. Irving publicly criticized the design process, claiming Nike had excluded him and bluntly calling the sneakers “trash.”

Despite the friction, the rebranded Kyrie Infinity did reach the market, and Irving was seen wearing the style during his limited appearances in the 2021–22 NBA season.

ESPN was already reporting in Spring 2022 that an extension of Irving’s contract with Nike was unlikely to be agreed beyond the NBA’s 2022-23 season.

A lineup of Nike Kyrie Infinity colorways, showcasing the model’s diverse palette and design versatility—from mint and tan tones to bold black-and-red and pastel finishes that reflect Kyrie Irving’s creative influence on his final Nike signature shoe

Kyrie Irving x Nike x SpongeBob: The Pop-Culture Collaboration That Defined a Generation of Sneakers

The most popular and sought-after Kyrie Irving shoes come from his Nike collaboration with the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise.

It featured five of the show’s most popular characters, reimagined in the Kyrie 5 and Kyrie Low 2 silhouettes.

The Nike x Kyrie Irving x SpongeBob SquarePants collection reimagined the Kyrie 5 silhouette in playful, character-inspired colorways — including SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward — blending performance basketball design with nostalgic pop-culture flair

SpongeBob, Sandy, Squidward, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs were transformed into Kyrie Irving shoes, each with an individual color palette that reflected the characters’ personalities.

The SpongeBob and Patrick sneakers each featured hand-drawn character names on their tongues.

The SpongeBob SquarePants x Nike Kyrie collection extended into the Kyrie 2 Low silhouette with designs inspired by Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy Cheeks—each pair blending playful cartoon details with the bold performance engineering of Irving’s fan-favorite sneaker line

These Kyrie Irving sneakers are amongst the most expensive on the second-hand market, typically retailing for at least $300 to $400, depending on the character sneaker you’re searching for.

From Nike to Anta: Kyrie Irving’s Bold New Chapter in Sneaker Design

The next Kyrie Irving shoes are expected to come as part of a collaboration with the Chinese sports brand Anta Sports. It’s the world’s largest purely sports equipment company and the third-largest sporting goods company, after Nike and Adidas.

The rumors of Anta Sports x Kyrie Irving shoes began after Irving was spotted wearing the Anta Shock Wave Pro 5 sneakers at his annual summer basketball camp.

Anta sponsors several NBA players, including Gordon Hayward and Klay Thompson, both of whom have sneaker collections with the brand.

While an official collaboration has yet to be confirmed, Irving first teased the partnership on Instagram in June 2023—sparking buzz across sneaker circles—before later being spotted courtside wearing a pair of Anta sneakers.

The Meaning Behind “11/23” on Kyrie Irving’s Nike Sneakers

The Nike Kyrie Flytrap 5 sneakers featured an ‘11/23’ sewn on the shoes. These numbers represent the date that Irving’s daughter, Azurie Elizabeth Irving, was born in 2015.

The “11/23” embroidery featured on the Nike Kyrie Flytrap 5 pays tribute to Kyrie Irving’s daughter, Azurie Elizabeth Irving, who was born on November 23, 2015 — a personal detail subtly woven into the sneaker’s design

Can You Still Buy Kyrie Irving’s Nike Sneakers?

Nike no longer sells Kyrie Irving shoes after ending its contract with the NBA player in November 2022.

After the contract cancellation, the brand quietly released a final colorway of the Nike Kyrie Low sneakers in February 2023. The final Nike Kyrie Low 5 in ‘Wolf Grey’ was launched on 1st February 2023.

The Nike Kyrie Low 5 in the “Wolf Grey” colorway — the final Kyrie Irving sneaker released by Nike in February 2023, featuring soft pink and charcoal accents with Zoom Air cushioning for signature on-court comfort

While you may still find some Kyrie Irving shoes at Nike outlets and retailers, the final few styles will be leaving the shelves shortly.

The best way to get Kyrie Irving x Nike sneakers is to shop with reliable second-hand retailers specializing in collectible sneakers.

Kyrie Irving Nike Shoe Prices and Collectible Market Value

The Kyrie Irving Nike collection featured eight signature sneakers, with the ninth style shelved after his contract was terminated. Most of the Kyrie Irving shoes retailed for $140 in adult sizes.

While you may get lucky and find the final Kyrie Irving x Nike sneakers at outlets, you can expect to pay at least the sticker price on second-hand marketplaces like StockX and Goat. The special collaboration with SpongeBob SquarePants is among the most expensive Kyrie Irving shoes.

As Kyrie Irving’s next chapter unfolds beyond Nike, sneaker culture continues to evolve—bridging performance, storytelling, and collectible design. From iconic Air Max classics to celebrity-driven collaborations, Nike remains at the center of that conversation.

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