Kyrie Irving's ANTA KAI 2 Speed Looks Fast Standing Still
Kyrie Irving was written off by many following the end of his relationship with Nike. Having had one of the brand and industry's most successful signature basketball sneaker lines, it was difficult to imagine the NBA All-Star recreating the magic with which he had been associated for years. In July 2023, Irving announced he had found a new home at ANTA, a decision questioned by some, but that's paid off over the last two years given the freedom and uninhibited support he receives.
Despite downtime during the season due to injuries, the ANTA KAI series has taken off better than most industry experts could've calculated. Irving's personal story continues being told through performance and lifestyle footwear, which arrives at a mostly unrivaled value-price proposition. The KAI 1 was highly-anticipated and did not disappoint, becoming the go-to hoops model for countless ballers across the world. The KAI 2 has enjoyed similar attention and has been lauded for providing a high-quality build not seen much in today's world of synthetic uppers on basketball shoes. In between both silhouettes, Irving and his ANTA team have launched Speed editions of the current KAI model, which now includes the aptly-named KAI 2 Speed.
According to its lead designer, industry veteran Dallas Stokes, the ANTA KAI 2 Speed was designed to "[look] fast standing still." As with its predecessor, the silhouette delivers a sleeker, lighter-weight ride than the mainline KAI 1 or KAI 2, unlocking a shiftier game.
Stokes drew inspiration for the sneaker from his 2022 Chevrolet Corvette and a picture of BMW's S 1000 RR motorcycle. Smooth lines across the upper and a low-to-the-ground sole unit create a through-line to these pinnacles of fast, engineering marvels.
Beyond living up to its "Speed" denotation, the latest ANTA model further expands Kyrie Irving's legend. His clever mashup of K and 11 returns to spine, but is also incorporated into the sneaker's upper design. The emblem is divided by the breathable tongue on all inaugural styles, which include a white-and-purple pair alongside black-and-pink, black-and-blue, and blue-and-orange finishes. Herringbone-patterned traction rounds out the speed-oriented offering, which is sure to win over even the biggest naysayers with its compelling mix of performance and style.
Firm release details of Irving's KAI 2 Speed have not been disclosed by any party involved as of yet, but the silhouette is expected to debut via ANTA.com, exclusively in China, throughout August. The aforementioned white-and-purple pair—dubbed "Butterfly Dance"—is set to kick things off, with additional color schemes landing throughout the remainder of the year. MSRP is unknown, but expect the second KAI Speed to retail around $125 like its predecessor.
Enjoy detailed shots of the basketball shoe ahead—courtesy of Instagram user @weocia—and check out the latest from Adidas Basketball when you're done.
