Kyrie Irving's ANTA Sneakers Drop In "Green Grails" Colorway
The Dallas Mavericks' journey incredible season came to a close in Boston on Monday night. Despite losing the NBA Finals, there were plenty of highlights this season for Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.
The 8x NBA All-Star proved doubters wrong and reshaped the basketball sneaker world. In honor of his achievements, ANTA is releasing a new colorway of Irving's first signature sneaker - the ANTA KAI 1 'Green Grails' colorway.
The new sneaker designs encapsulate Irving's extraordinary speed and skills on the court, utilizing the concepts of 'Using the Code' and ancestral heritage as guiding lights. The 'Green Grails' colorway is inspired by the concept of a jaded artifact passed down from the ancestors, providing protection, mental focus, and balance of mind, body, and spirit.
Green calms the mind, allowing players to focus on game strategy while on the court and aiding the body in recovery post-game. The sneaker's design features a shield on its vamp, symbolizing protection and forefoot lockdown. Every warrior needs armor when going into battle.
Additionally, the "Green Grails" colorway reflects Irving's dedication to Dallas with a design inspired by lush, vibrant green hues symbolizing growth, energy, and a fresh start.
These sneakers represent the natural beauty of Irving's roots in New Jersey and the green fields of hope and renewal. The silhouette's aerodynamic contours echo Irving's slick, gravity-defying transitions and crossovers.
The hieroglyphic-esque code on the upper brings a narrative punch, grounding the sneaker in ancestral strength. The color application was designed to be clean to curate head-to-toe looks, ensuring that each element of the sneaker aligns seamlessly with Irving's "Enlightened Warrior" ethos.
This meticulous attention to detail enhances the visual appeal and reinforces the narrative of speed, quickness, and ancestral strength embedded in the design.
According to ANTA, every aspect, from the vibrant yellow symbolizing explosive energy to the hieroglyphic-esque codes, contributes to a cohesive aesthetic that empowers the wearer, much like a warrior preparing for battle.
"We're excited about this next release as the momentum continues to build on and off the court for KAI and the tribe. It's such an honor to continue creating a product that holds us all to a higher standard while celebrating such a historical journey thus far. We must continue to deliver premium products with soul, passion, and purpose. That said, we look forward to sharing it with the ever-expanding tribe. Peace and light." - Shaneika Warden, Color Design Director.
These limited-edition sneakers will be available exclusively on June 22 at Anta.com and with retail partners Sneaker Politics, Extra Butter, Nice Kicks, Sneaker Room, and KICKS CREW.
Irving's season is over, but his partnership with ANTA is just getting started. Fans can follow Sports Illustrated for all of their footwear news from the NBA and the rest of the sports world.
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PAT BENSON
Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.