Kyrie Irving took to Twitter to make a statement to make demand that he must be placed on the same list as LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant.
Responding to actor O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s comment on who has the highest-selling shoes, Irving had a reply backed with numbers.
“My signature line made the previous brand I was with over 2.6 Billion in Revenue the past 7 years. I can safely say, I am one of them ones out here in the competitive shoe market, dominating. And not to be arrogant, Go Ask around, the kids that grew up wearing/buying my shoes know, respectfully I am that guy because of the Support WORLDWIDE.”
While Irving did not reveal the figures of how much the rest of the players in the tweet, it’s safe to say the signature sneakers sold from their line have enjoyed significant success.
For instance, James’ shoes in the market reportedly crossed $340 million. MJ had an incredible $19 billion in the last five years, and per Forbes, Irving made $11 million from his endorsement deal during the last fiscal year. This shows the brand image in his market and the influence he has on the fans. His sneaker line is estimated to have generated $100 to $300 million each year.
Giving the Dallas Mavericks guard every reason to believe that he indeed belongs in the pantheon of greats when it comes to sneaker sales.
Kyrie Irving Teases Inking A New Deal With Anta
Earlier this offseason, Kyrie Irving inked a new seal with Chinese sneaker company, Anta. He sported wore the Anta Shock Wave Pro 5 basketball shoes at his annual summer basketball camp a few weeks ago.
While there is no official deal announcement, speculations are rife that he will indeed land a lucrative deal with the sneaker giant. The brand also has prominent faces in Klay Thompson and Gordon Hayward.
The deal comes in the aftermath of Irving’s partnership with Nike coming to an end this past season. It remains to be seen how his new sneaker line with Anta fares in the market.