Kyrie Irving Sends Message With Shoes in Dallas Debut

Kyrie Irving sent a message with his Nike shoes during Dallas Mavericks debut.

Just because Kyrie Irving got a change in scenery does not mean the polarizing point guard is going to alter or edit himself in any way. During his debut for Dallas Mavericks last night, Irving led his new team to victory over the Los Angeles Clippers with 24 points.

Irving continued his practice of concealing the Nike Swoosh logo on his shoes with black tape featuring a hand-written message. This time, Irving wore the Nike Kyrie 3 in the 'EYBL' colorway. Irving used a gold pen to write "Afrakan Liberation" with the infinity sign on the tape.

Nike Kyrie 3

A detailed look at Kyrie Irving's shoes / © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Nike Kyrie 3 'EYBL' was released in limited quantities in May 2017 for $120. According to StockX, the shoes now have an average resale price of $393. The vibrant colorway was designed for the "Elite Youth Basketball League" participants, one of the most important amateur tournaments in the country.

While this might be new to Mavericks fans, Irving has been doing this since Nike officially cut ties with him in December. After Irving's controversial remarks resulted in a seven-game suspension, Nike canceled the launch of his final signature shoe and pulled new merchandise off sales floors.

In turn, Irving began playing in older models from his signature line in rare colorways. However, all visible Nike branding has been concealed by the 8x NBA All-Star. Irving's messages have been as sporadic as his availability on the court. He has promoted his sneaker free agency, liberation, and revolution. 

While Irving embarks on finding a sneaker deal, Nike is not done with him yet. Earlier this month, the Nike Kyrie Low 5 was quietly released in a new colorway on Nike's website.

Dallas made a risky bet by wagering so much on a player whose undeniable talent is often overshadowed by his eccentricities. Nevertheless, if Irving can stay on the court and out of trouble, it could be a special year in Dallas. But that is a big if.

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