NBA Superstar Kyrie Irving Visited Southeast Asia for the First Time. Looks Like it Won’t Be His Last

On Saturday evening (September 21), NBA star Kyrie Irving’s private jet touched down in Bangkok coming from a wild five-day promotional tour in China to launch his dad’s signature sneaker, the KAI Speed. Yes, it’s a basketball shoe inspired by his father Drederick, who played college basketball for Boston University in the ‘80s. Family evidently means a lot to the younger Irving and Thailand played host to the Dallas Mavericks point guard and members of his family, both by blood and otherwise, on Irving’s first visit to Southeast Asia put together by sportswear brand Anta. 

Kyrie Irving's first visit to Southeast Asia was in Bangkok, Thailand

After a warm welcome by fans at the airport, first on Irving’s itinerary was a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River which provided Irving’s crew with amazing views of Bangkok landmarks such as the Wat Arun, the ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram as well as the Grand Palace. The cruise along the river, whose name is often translated to “River of Kings” was a fitting welcome to Chief Hela, who was given his Lakota name by his mother Elizabeth’s Standing Rock Sioux tribe. It translates to Little Mountain. Elizabeth died when Irving was just four years old and he grew up searching more and more for anything which connected him to her, including her Native American roots.

Irving enjoying a meal in Bangkok

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Born in Australia where his father used to play professional basketball, Irving and the family moved back to the United States when he was two and New Jersey was where he grew up and fell in love with basketball. After playing for Montclair Kimberley Academy and St. Patrick High School, Irving was a five-star recruit and also won a gold medal for the U.S. at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2010. He would go on to play for Duke, albeit for just 11 games due to an injury, before deciding to forego the rest of his college career and turn pro. He was selected 11th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. 

Irving throws a shot in front of media and fans in Bangkok

After 13 seasons in the NBA, basketball has taken Irving around the world and the capital city of Thailand was the latest stop in his ongoing journey. Everywhere he goes, Irving takes his mom with him. When you look at the bottom of the Anta KAI 1, which he helped design himself, Elizabeth’s name is etched on the outsole of every single shoe. 

A quick chat with Kyrie

Day two in Bangkok began with a sumptuous meal at the Jim Thompson House. Part-museum and part-restaurant, the venue is a popular destination for tourists who come to admire both the architecture of the home as well as the personal collection of art left behind by the late American businessman who greatly helped the Thai silk industry back in the day.

The author sits down for a quick chat with Kyrie Irving in Bangkok

We joined Irving and his entourage for lunch where we were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak with the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year, eight-time NBA All-Star, and one-time NBA Champion. After the Thai, Singaporean and Malaysian media delegations were done, our small group from the Philippines was ushered into the lanai where Irving was waiting. I was first up so I walked over to him and the first thing I noticed about him was how unbelievably calm he was in the middle of everything going on around him. He had his family and friends at the dinner table finishing their desserts, the Anta team was busy preparing for the next stop in the itinerary, a throng of fans were waiting for him outside the restaurant, and security was keeping everyone in check. A local photographer who had managed to sneak into the restaurant was quickly escorted out. Irving was centered. Enlightened, even. He had a really peaceful vibe to him.

Irving signs the author's jersey

As I approached Irving, he really made an effort to connect as I noticed he also did with the others he talked to. He looked you in the eye as you spoke and made you feel like he really saw you.    

I asked Kyrie if he realizes that halfway across the globe in our tiny, basketball-crazy archipelago, he has made such a huge impact in the lives of some Filipinos, so much so that people in the Philippines are actually naming their children after him. True story.

“That’s such a great responsibility that I don’t take for granted,” he said. “I’m grateful. It makes me feel like I have to continue what I’m doing. It inspires me to continue what I’m doing in a deeper sense because it’s bigger than just the game of basketball.”

Irving onstage with members of his family

In the 13 seasons so far that we’ve seen him do the unbelievable things that he’s done in the NBA, basketball has been the medium for this artist on the court to reach out to people with what he wants to say. We know we don’t always say the right things but some of us are blessed with God-given gifts that help us speak our truths better than any words could ever. In the same way a ballerina can tell a story through dance or a painter uses his canvas to bring colors to life, Irving’s wizardry with a basketball is something that brings people together. 

“It’s a connector of just other human beings, different cultures, different religions, different ethnicities, different races, and what I always have preached is that we need to come together to be more unified,” Irving shared. “If it’s through my name, if it’s through a court, if it’s through the game of basketball, if it’s through love, if it’s through storytelling, I feel like it should include all walks of life. Whether you’re from the Philippines or anywhere else, I feel like we’re connected for life.” 

Irving is presented with a pair of limited edition Anta shoes

Later that evening, the tribe came out in full force to welcome him at the fan event at Centralworld. There was a fashion show featuring his Hela lifestyle collection with Anta along with an interview with the player and his dad onstage where they talked about the KAI Speed. A local Thai artist gifted Irving with a customized one-of-one Thai inspired KAI 1 and the Anta Thai team presented him with souvenir Muay Thai shorts. 

Irving closed the show the best way he could by calling his friends and family to the stage and thanking everyone in the crowd for being part of the experience. “Every time I throw this up (two crossed fingers), it’s literally a representation of all the people not only supporting me but are striving to make this world a better place. It’s bigger than just product, its bigger than just shoes, it’s bigger than just selling things. 

“We are the embodiment of what it means to be family,” he added. “To be Tribe.”