Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson made headlines during NBA All-Star weekend for their business, as they were present at the grand opening of ANTA’s first store in America. The grand opening took place at Rodeo at 330 N. Beverly Dr., and the basketball stars were not the only people of importance at the opening.
Representatives from both the US and Chinese governments attended the ceremony. Officials from the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles presented the brand with an honorary medal recognizing its contributions to sports industry development and people-to-people exchange.
U.S. representatives in attendance included a delegate from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Ann Barger and Sharona Nazarian, mayor of Beverly Hills, who delivered a congratulatory letter to ANTA CEO Samuel Tsui praising the company’s role in promoting bilateral trade and sports-cultural collaboration.
Tsui commented, “The Beverly Hills flagship is a pivotal step in ANTA’s global strategy. Opening directly operated stores in the United States is about using our products as a medium and our retail space as a window to allow global consumers to experience the strength of Chinese innovation and the warmth of Chinese culture.”
This opening is significant because of the position Irving holds within the company as an ANTA Global Ambassador and Chief Creative Officer. He signed with the company after losing his Nike deal due to him promoting a link to a documentary called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” based on a book of the same name by Ronald Dalton Jr.
Both the book and movie have been criticized for their antisemitic message. The movie was available on Amazon to watch. While the accusations were undeserved, Irving was suspended for five games and lost his Nike sponsorship.
“It’s a big moment, and I’m happy to be part of the progress ANTA is having and can’t wait for what the future holds for the company,” Irving said. “Bridging the gap between cultures and making products easier for the supporters to obtain is amazing.”
Thompson also signed a lifetime deal with the company at the opening, with future editions of his exclusive footwear and apparel set to launch through the store.
The flagship carries ANTA’s core product lineup, including the KAI series, the HELA lifestyle collection, the PG7 running shoes, and the C202 racing model, reinforcing the brand’s “Intelligent Manufacturing from China” philosophy and its commitment to technological accessibility and the democratization of professional performance.
Positioned as a “Sports Lifestyle Hub,” the Beverly Hills flagship will host localized initiatives, including running clubs, basketball culture salons, and technology experience workshops to deepen engagement with North American consumers.