Kyrie Irving Becomes Sneaker Free Agent After Nike Officially Ends Partnership After Antisemitism Al

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty

Kyrie Irving has had a tumultuous tenure while playing for the Brooklyn Nets and on Monday, the NBA player took another hit.

At the start of 2021, he was thrown into drama for missing games while allegedly attending a maskless birthday party amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After that things didn't slow down and Irving would soon become the face of the anti-vaccine stance in sports. Weeks ago Kyrie posted a link to the controversial film Hebrew To Negros: Wake Up America and received his loudest backlash yet. The Nets eventually suspended Irving and compiled a list of things he needed to complete to return.

Nets statement on Kyrie Irving: "We are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets. We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures..." pic.twitter.com/Mp682Sck23

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2022

Nike Parts Ways With Kyrie Irving For Endorsing Antisemitic Film

Even with Kyrie Irving completing the tasks asked of him to return to the Brooklyn Nets, Nike apparently wasn't impressed. The iconic sneaker brand signed Kyrie in 2011 and announced their partnership was on hold weeks prior. Today, reporter Shams Charania revealed that Nike has officially parted ways with Irving despite him being a top seller for the brand.

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— Hélà (@KyrieIrving) December 5, 2022

Kyrie responded to the news exactly how fans would expect and noted that he's essentially free. Many believe that he's hinting that the relationship between him and Nike was already soured before this latest incident.

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— Hélà (@KyrieIrving) December 5, 2022

Later, Irving took time to thank his fans who spent their money on his products.

Anyone who has even spent their hard earned money on anything I have ever released, I consider you FAMILY and we are forever connected.
it's time to show how powerful we are as a community.

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— Hélà (@KyrieIrving) December 5, 2022

To my Tribe : "I am because you are."

I pour libations and pray for all of my people today and everyday. I am.

Hélà
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— Hélà (@KyrieIrving) December 5, 2022

Do YOU think another sneaker brand will pick up Kyrie next?



via: https://bossip.com/2199420/kyrie-irving-nike-split/