Kyrie Irving pulls very unusual business move

As he prepares for his fourth career trip to the NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving continues to keep things in the family.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Dallas Mavericks star Irving is signing his first signature athlete for his shoe line with ANTA: his father, Drederick Irving. Charania notes that this is the first time ever that a pro athlete has signed their father to a signature shoe deal.

Kyrie is very close with Drederick, who raised him as a single father after Kyrie’s mother, Elizabeth, died when Kyrie was just 4-years-old. Drederick used to be a professional basketball player as well, playing in Australia for the Bulleen Boomers after his collegiate career at Boston University.

Charania adds that the Drederick Irving signature sneaker will release in Foot Locker stores in September. While it is an unprecedented move for an athlete to sign their parent to a shoe deal, it is actually on-brand for Irving. 

In 2022, he hired his stepmother Shetellia Riley Irving, who is Drederick’s second wife, as his agent in what was also a groundbreaking move.