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Kyrie Irving and ANTA will launch a 2026 world tour beginning June 22 in Shanghai, with stops across China, Indonesia, and the United States, the brand announced Thursday. The tour, branded “The Return,” will move through Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Jakarta, Las Vegas, New Jersey, and Macau between June 22 and October. It is Irving’s third major tour for the brand, where he serves as ANTA Basketball’s chief creative officer.
Justin Martinez: A statement from Nike: “We are thrilled to welcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Nike Basketball signature family. Coming after back-to-back MVP seasons, we are excited to build on Shai’s incredible impact with Converse as one of the most creative leaders in the game.”
Nick DePaula: CONFIRMED: Nike has officially added Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a Signature Swoosh athlete. “Coming after back-to-back MVP seasons, we are excited to build on Shai's incredible impact with Converse as one of the most creative leaders in the game.”
Nick DePaula: Athletes shifting subsidiary brands are technically a contractual option within companies, but rarely happen. Recent key ones: 2020: Shai from Nike to Converse 2019: Jayson Tatum from Nike to Jordan 2013: John Wall from Reebok to Adidas 2009: Dwyane Wade from Converse to Jordan
Business Decision with Mike Vorkunov: Skechers said Knicks finals star OG Anunoby has a signature shoe coming. "It’s too early to share specific details," Skechers president Michael Greenberg said in a statement, "but we do have a signature shoe in the works." OG filed a trademark request with the US Patent Office for a logo this year
Skechers said Knicks finals star OG Anunoby has a signature shoe coming. "It’s too early to share specific details," Skechers president Michael Greenberg said in a statement, "but we do have a signature shoe in the works." OG filed a trademark request with the US Patent Office for a logo this year
— Business Decision with Mike Vorkunov (@businessdecisionmv.bsky.social) 2026-06-16T18:30:08.267Z
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It’s been a wild weekend if you live in NYC. The Knicks won the NBA Finals in five games, the Puerto Rican Day Parade took over the city, and the hangover from the celebrations around the 53-year championship drought being snapped for the Knickerbockers is far from over. The reason the Knicks were able to close out the series as quickly as they did was OG Anunoby, whose last-second tip-in to take the lead in Game 4 sent them to San Antonio up 3-1. His performance in the playoffs may have just been the tipping point for him to get his own signature sneaker with Skechers, as brand president Michael Greenberg has confirmed OG’s shoe is in the works. “Skechers Basketball has been on the court for three seasons with a roster of players in the league – including superstar OG Anunoby,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.
With a market valued at more than $90 billion annually, the sneaker industry has long moved beyond gear worn only by athletes on the court to everyday streetwear that can make — or break — your outfit. NBA games double as a footwear fashion shows. Who is wearing what becomes one of the biggest talking points each night for sneakerheads worldwide. It’s all part of the reason Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s foundation chipped in $10 million to help D'Wayne Edwards launch his vision of teaching sneaker design at an HBCU. “The culture around sneakers represents creativity, storytelling and self-expression,” Gilbert, who lives in Detroit, wrote in an email to The Athletic.
colendri.com: Jalen Brunson debuted a new Nike Kobe 6 PE colorway against the San Antonio Spurs, finishing with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists in 35:27.
The New York Knicks’ most well-known fan is getting hooked up by Jordan Brand with a custom pair of kicks for the team’s first NBA Finals home game since 1999. Spike Lee will wear a bespoke Air Jordan 3 Monday night featuring Knicks orange and blue and his own logo.
Shams Charania: You think about shoe deals, right? Kevin Durant, LeBron James locked in at Nike. Now Stephen Curry at Li-Ning. Those are really the three faces of this current generation of players. And you think about this next generation of guys, right? And Victor Wembanyama is at the the highest of stages now at the NBA Finals. Sources tell me his shoe deal is actually up in October as well. So, he's going to be a sneaker free agent coming up. And you think about the timing of this, right? He's 22 years old. He's about to be in the Finals. He just won conference finals MVP. He just won defensive player of the year. First unanimous ever. Anthony Edwards, he's locked in at Adidas. He's got a big deal, too. Luka Doncic locked in at Jordan. He's got a big deal. Think about other faces in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he's got a big deal at Converse. Jayson Tatum, he's also locked in at Jordan Brand. And so when you think all those other young faces are locked in, you have a guy like Victor at Nike. We'll see what happens with his future now on the shoe side.
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In November 2025, Curry and Under Armour ended their partnership that had been ongoing since 2013 – before the future Hall of Fame shooter had achieved any of the honors listed above. “To sign a $400 million plus sneaker deal, allegedly, at 38 years old is unheard of,” Green said. “Which just lets you know the weight that the name Steph Curry carries, which lets you know that the presence that Steph Curry has, who he is, what he is, what he stands for, that they're willing to sign this a 10-year deal.”
Draymond Green: "Li-Ning also plans to build Curry brand stores in the United States and in China. One factor that was key in his decision to go with Li-Ning, they said was the comfort while he was testing the shoes of two of their signature athletes, Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. And I know that to be factual because one and how they treat those guys, because one big thing when Steph signed with Under Armour way back in the day was actually how they treated Kent Bazemore and the sneakers that Kent Bazemore was wearing as Steph tried the sneakers and he saw how they was treating Bazemore. That was one key thing that he saw when he was signing with Under Armour. So I know that this was key in him signing with Li-Ning."
Shams Charania: Landmark: Golden State star Stephen Curry's 10-year endorsement deal with Li-Ning is worth over $400 million, industry sources tell ESPN. Curry had similar financial commitments from other brands, including at least one more lucrative offer, but chose Li-Ning to power Curry Brand.
Lev Akabas: This chart tells a lot of the story about Steph Curry's new sneaker deal with Li-Ning 🏀👟💰 The Chinese market is a massive opportunity for Steph, but Western sportswear brands like Nike have stagnated in China, while Li-Ning is growing 📈