Yeah, I got on sneaks, but I need a new pair/Cuz basketball courts in the summer got girls there." — Will Smith on the 1991 hit song "Summertime"
MORE: Commissioner Silver doesn’t want to break up ‘superteams’
The Warriors' journey to their second championship in three years ended Tuesday with a 129-120 win against the Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but the quest to stay fresh never ends.
Enter Golden State guard Klay Thompson's ANTA KT2 "The Chase" pack, which dropped just ahead of the finals in both white (home) and black (away) colorways to commemorate the Splash Brother and his teammates' final push to bring the Larry O'Brien trophy back to Oakland. ANTA, the China-based company Thompson has endorsed since 2015, comes with its most creative and hopefully, for them, viable offering in the American basketball hoops market with a pair of signature sneaks that will turn heads and perform — both on and off the court — if you know how to finesse your fashion game right.
Sporting News scored a pair, so let's break it down by the three most important factors when contemplating purchasing some new kicks — aesthetics, fit and, of course, performance.
LOOK GOOD: Despite what the internet might've told you, the KT2s aren't ugly at all. The home colorway is pretty sweet in person. The initial press photos ANTA sent out simply didn't do the sneakers justice, forcing them to take an undeserved PR hit. There's a lot going on with the the clear outsole, faux 24K gold heel that'd make Bruno Mars proud and the grey accents and gold paint splashes along the midsole.
However, the breathable white synthetic leather provides a calm back drop for all that busyness. The mesh upper houses a stylishly and strategically placed ANTA logo on the inside and outside. The "KT" logo on the tongue introduces a hint of red, white and blue, possibly a nod to Thompson's participation on Team USA's gold-medal winning squad in the Rio Olympics. A replica of Thompson's autograph adorns some multi-colored striping (it looks like a pack of Fruit Strip gum) on the inside of the tongue to give the KT2's some literal signature flair. The away colorway just works. Partner them with some dark gray fleece shorts, lower-shin level high-performance socks and a white tee, and you'll definitely turn heads on the court this summer. I just hope your jumper is wet like Thompson's.
Honestly, the away colorway isn't nearly as dope. It comes off like a bad spinoff of Nike's Watch the Throne LeBron 9s. Off the court, the shoes are salvageable, especially if you're the type to wear ripped black skinny jeans and 1980s style black leather jackets, with all those zippers. Where the home half of the "The Chase" pack hits, its counterpart largely misses.
FEEL GOOD: In my experience, the KT Light, Thompson's first signature trainer, ran big, especially for their primary purpose. The KT2 "The Chase" away runs true to size. If your feet are exceptionally wide, you might want to go up a half size, but it shouldn't be necessary. The lockdown is exceptional. Your foot won't slide, and you don't need to tie them extremely tight if you lace them up all the way, unless that's your preference. They may feel a little cramped on your first wear, but the net/mesh is plenty flexible without being flimsy. Eventually, you'll wind up settling into into a nice, comfy fit.
PLAY GOOD: Like Klay did on the court (more on the defensive end in the playoffs with the addition of Kevin Durant to Golden State's lineup), the KT2 "The Chase" gets the job done. Even on a dusty gym floor, the traction is reliable, and the cushion makes for a nice ride for soft-landing, spot-up shooters or high-rising dunkers. They're very responsive to hard cuts and sprints on any surface. It's a testament to ANTA's EVE tech, which provides dual foam pads to absorb all the wear and tear of a hard day on the court, as well as the shanked midsole and heel counter, which gives the shoe great stability.
ANTA's come a long, long way with it's design. Remember the look of utter displeasure Thompson had at his first press event with the brand a couple years ago? Now, that seems like eons ago as ANTA has stepped its game up with the KT2 "The Chase," and the company is planning never to look back. It's an All-Star product for an All-Star player competitively priced at $120 at AntaAmerica.com.