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Kyrie Irving is a blessing to the NBA, but that is not all that he is about. In a world where signature sneakers drop every other week, it’s easy to get lost in the hype. But every once in a while, a pair comes along that hits deeper, beyond fashion, beyond basketball. That’s exactly what Kyrie Irving’s newest release, the ANTA Kai 2 “Mother’s Love”, is all about.
Limited to just 1,111 pairs, this isn’t just another flashy shoe release; it’s a raw, personal tribute to the women who shaped two sons, and it’s a powerful act of giving back.
Dropping exclusively through Sneaker Room both in-store and online on Saturday, May 3 at 11 a.m., this special edition sneaker honours the late mothers of Kyrie Irving and Sneaker Room CEO Suraj Kaufman, two men who turned personal loss into purpose. Even more meaningful? 100% of the proceeds will go to the Sneaker Room Foundation, which funds local community efforts, a cause both men hold close to their hearts.
Let’s break down the design, because every inch of this shoe tells a story.
The left sneaker is dedicated to Kyrie’s mom, Elizabeth Larson, who passed away when he was just four years old. It features poppy flowers, green and yellow hues inspired by Australia (Kyrie’s birthplace), and personalised icons representing her passions and identity. It’s a wearable love letter from a son still finding ways to connect with the woman he lost too soon.
The right shoe, meanwhile, honours Suraj Kaufman’s mother, Ellen, with gentle blue and yellow tones, carnation flowers, and symbols tied to Jersey City, where both Sneaker Room and Kaufman’s story are rooted.
And it’s not just the aesthetic that matters here, it’s the emotion behind it.
Kyrie has spoken openly about the emptiness he felt growing up without a mom. He remembers seeing classmates with their “perfect” families, wondering what it would be like to have that kind of love and stability. “I never really brought it up,” Kyrie said in a recent interview. “I’d just go to my room, sit on my bed, and stare at the wall. It was just… emotional.”
For young Kyrie, basketball wasn’t just a sport, it was an escape. “That’s still my getaway,” he says. Every time he hit the court, it was a way to release the pain and fill the silence his mother left behind.
But as much as he grieved, Kyrie also sought to honour her. He learned more about his mother’s roots later in life, discovering that Elizabeth Larson was a descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In 2016, elders helped Kyrie trace his lineage, and two years later, he was officially welcomed into the tribe in a traditional Lakota ceremony. That’s when he received his tribal name: “Little Mountain.” It was a turning point in his journey of healing and identity.
The ANTA Kai 2 “Mother’s Love” release isn’t just a sneaker drop, it’s an act of remembrance, resilience, and community. It honours two mothers, two sons, and the quiet strength of women everywhere who give their all, often without recognition.
And with all proceeds going toward community initiatives, this is fashion with purpose. This is Kyrie using his platform not just to celebrate his roots, but to lift others up in the process.
So while sneakerheads will be chasing the drop for its rarity and design, those who know the story behind it will wear these shoes with something more: heart.