Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving made headlines by signing his father, Drederick Irving, to his signature shoe line. This marks the first time a professional athlete has secured a shoe deal for their parents.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported this milestone on Tuesday. He added that Drederick Irving’s shoe will be available at Foot Locker in September.
Kyrie Irving has often spoken about the significant support he received from his father throughout his career. Drederick Irving, whom Kyrie also regards as his “harsh critic,” played college basketball at Boston University and professionally in Australia.
Kyrie Irving was previously a prominent brand ambassador for Nike. However, Nike ended their contract with him after he shared a documentary containing an antisemitic message. Chinese sportswear brand ANTA quickly seized the opportunity to collaborate with him.
Soon after Nike terminated their deal, ANTA signed a five-year contract with Irving. This collaboration includes a shoe deal and appoints Irving as Basketball’s Chief Creative Officer. He can recruit other basketball players and celebrities to join the ANTA team in this role.
Irving’s warm gesture towards his father made the fans emotional, and they took to social media to applaud the Dallas Mavericks star.
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Kyrie Irving’s Impressive Finals Average Puts Pressure on Celtics
The Dallas Mavericks have advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years. As they prepare for a highly anticipated showdown against the Boston Celtics, Mavs star Kyrie Irving’s record is potentially worrisome for the Celtics.
The Mavericks’ star guard has a history of shining brightly on the biggest stage. In his previous NBA Finals appearances, Irving has averaged 27.7 points per game. The record places him eighth among players with 10 or more games played in the Finals.
Rick Barry holds the record for the highest scoring average in the NBA Finals, with an astounding 36.3 points per game. Michael Jordan ranks second with an average of 33.6 points per game. While Irving’s average is lower, his ability to perform under pressure remains undeniable and significant.
The Celtics are well aware of Irving’s scoring capability. They will need to strategize effectively to contain the iconic duo of Irving and Luka Doncic in Game 1 of the NBA finale.
Also Read: “I Don’t Think…”- NBA Analyst Regrets Overlooking Kyrie Irving’s Talent.
