In Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving laced up the “Twin Flame” colorway of his signature ANTA KAI 1 Speed sneaker.
Irving made history when he signed his father, Drederick Irving, as the first signature athlete for his ANTA KAI shoe line on Tuesday.
The “Twin Flame” shoe is dedicated to his father and mother, Elizabeth Larson, who died when Kyrie was four years old.
The shoe tells the story of his parents meeting at Boston University. Drederick played basketball for the Terriers and Elizabeth played on the volleyball team.
The pattern on the toe of the shoe honors Elizabeth’s Native American roots. She was a descendent of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
“I see so many facets of myself … people don’t talk about [Elizabeth] enough. [Kyrie’s] a combination of both Liz and I but Liz was a special person. She was one who kind of wanted to shape the world so, twin flame, I like the name,” Drederick said of the colorway in an unboxing video.
“This shoe reflects, you know, who Kyrie and I are as one.”