Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is extending his influence beyond the court by committing to a multi-year, full uniform sponsorship deal facilitated through his KAI brand and sportswear partner, ANTA. The initiative, announced in late 2025, represents a significant investment in supporting the athletic departments of these institutions.

The partnership marks a three-year commitment to provide high-performance apparel and footwear. Among the 14 basketball programs benefiting from this comprehensive sponsorship is Paul Quinn College, the only HBCU located in the city of Dallas, Texas. The agreement ensures that both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Paul Quinn will receive top-tier sneakers, warmups, and full team gear. The sponsorship also extends to include select youth and high school programs in key basketball regions, including Irving’s home state of New Jersey.

Irving, who holds the title of Chief Creative Officer of ANTA Basketball, utilizes his strategic role to direct brand resources toward these institutions. This structure allows the partnership to directly address resource disparities often faced by athletic departments at small colleges. For HBCU programs that compete at the NAIA level, such as Paul Quinn, the guaranteed, long-term supply of premium gear from an international sportswear brand provides substantial material support.

The investment is valued not only in equipment but also in institutional exposure. Associating Paul Quinn College and other Black institutions with a global athlete of Irving’s stature and the ANTA brand enhances the visibility of the programs. This level of corporate and celebrity backing is a verifiable asset for student-athlete recruitment, helping these schools attract talent who seek competitive resources.

This initiative is consistent with Irving’s established history of philanthropic support for HBCUs, which has previously included direct financial contributions such as paying off student tuition fees. By embedding the KAI brand into the athletic programs, the partnership provides a tangible, performance-based contribution that impacts daily operations and long-term program sustainability.

The agreement ensures consistency in equipment quality for student-athletes over the three-year duration. The sponsorship initiative places HBCU athletics programs in direct association with a major global athlete and international apparel brand, underscoring the importance of Black colleges in the national athletic landscape. It serves as a model for how influential figures in professional sports can leverage corporate partnerships to provide meaningful and sustained support to educational institutions within the Black community. The focus remains on the measurable delivery of resources and the resulting competitive enhancements for the supported teams.