Kyrie Irving returned to Brooklyn yesterday to play his first game against the Nets since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks a year ago. For his return to the Barclays Center, Irving broke out his first signature shoe with Anta: the Kai 1.
Pictured above is the Anta Kai 1 "Artist on Court" colorway that's scheduled to release sometime in the spring. The tech specs behind Irving's new sig model are currently unknown, but the sneaker's overall design DNA is somewhat reminiscent of his previous Nike signature line. The shoe features a mid-cut construction on the upper that's paired with a midfoot strap for lockdown. Irving's signature logo is printed on the tongue while the Anta logo appears on the midsole.
Prior to debuting the shoe yesterday, Irving wore the Anta Shock Wave 5 model last season before he quietly laced up a prototype version of his Kai 1 earlier this year. For his first game in the Kai 1 yesterday, Irving scored a game-high 36 points and had five assists.
There are no release details available for the Anta Kai 1 at the moment, but check back soon to Complex Sneakers for official updates.
UPDATE (02/27): Anta has confirmed that Irving's Kai 1 sneaker will make its retail debut in the "Artist on Court" colorway on March 6 at Anta.com and in-store exclusively at Sneaker Politics in Dallas for $125. The shoe will then be released on March 7 at Extra Butter in New York City, followed by a final drop on March 9 at Nice Kicks in San Francisco. Additional colorways of the Anta Kai 1 will be released in the coming months.
UPDATE (03/18): If you missed out on copping the "Artist of Court" Anta Kai 1 but still want to buy a pair for retail, you're in luck. Kicks Crew has confirmed it's releasing the shoe on Saturday, March 23, in honor of Irving's birthday. Fans can sign up for a chance to receive early access to purchase the shoe here.
