Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Kyrie Irving thinks that his new signature Nike basketball sneaker sucks. To be exact, the outspoken Brooklyn Nets star commented on a leaked image of the shoes on Instagram, writing that the shoes are trash and that he “has nothing to do with the design or marketing” of the shoe.

Irving went on to write: “IMO these are trash! I have absolutely nothing to do with them! Nike plans to release it without my okay regardless of what I say, so I apologize in advance to all of my sneaker heads and true supporters of the #KAI11 brand.”

It’s no secret that players have varying degrees of input on the design of their signature sneaker. Usually, they tell the brand what they want in terms of performance and the team of in-house designers at the brand create the overall design, which then gets okay-ed by the player and his team. Some players take a more hands-on approach than others, however, it’s rare that a player comes out and says they had no input whatsoever and that they actively dislike the shoe.

Previous Nike Kyrie sneakers have been released in the fall, coinciding with the start of the NBA season. If that is the case for the Kyrie 8, it’s highly likely that the sneaker is ready to be released soon and that it would be too late for any major changes to the design and rollout.

Irving’s signature sneaker is one of Nike’s more popular designs, as it’s slightly more affordable than the brand’s other signature basketball shoes, generally performs very well, and is the canvas for a range of collaborations and special editions — most famously the ongoing partnership between Nike and Concepts.

It’s currently unclear what prompted Irving to reveal his disdain for the shoe so publically. Check out Irving’s comment below and stay tuned for updates to this developing story.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, follow @highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, check out the best sneakers to add to your rotation this week, and sign up to our newsletter for the latest sneaker news sent straight to your inbox.

Want to keep browsing? Head to the Highsnobiety Shop for more products that we love. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.

We Recommend
  • Fall's Flowers: Nike's New Retro AJ4s Blossom Against All Odds
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored
  • Nike’s Modular ISPA Collection Is Nike at Its Most Utilitarian
    • Style
  • One Pair of Laces Is Not Enough… Apparently
    • Sneakers
  • From Air Jordan to Saucony, Browse This Week’s Best Sneaker Releases
    • Sneakers
  • Nike's Shockingly Good Foamposites Came From...a Video Game?
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • This adidas Sneaker Is so Thicc That Light Literally Bounces off
    • Sneakers
  • Nike's Brand-New, Highly Techy Air Max Shoe Is Already a Classic
    • Sneakers
  • The Year We Loved to Hate Beauty
    • Beauty
  • This Flawless Nike Air Force 1 Sneaker Makes HBCU Colors Extra Beautiful
    • Sneakers
  • The Weird, Wonderful, & Rugged Beauty of Nike's Outdoorsy Air Max Sneaker
    • Sneakers
  • A Young Designer Lands a Collab With Travis Scott's Cactus Jack. What Next?
    • Style