BTP - Reebok Allen Iverson
We still have these two crazy cool Vintage Deadstock Reebok Allen Iverson Jersey XLarge available here. Also, check out our current NBA selection here.
Iverson experienced athletic success and controversy from a young age. At Bethel High School, he led the school's football and basketball teams to state championships in his junior year.
At the age of 17, Iverson was arrested with several of his friends after an altercation at a bowling alley, but after four months in prison, the conviction was overturned in 1995 due to insufficient evidence.
He was offered a scholarship to Georgetown, where he averaged 23 PPG in two years and was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Reebok began developing a signature shoe for Iverson while he was still in college, and the brand's foresight paid off. A finished shoe for Iverson was a key factor in his decision to choose Reebok.
They signed Iverson for $50 million over 10 years - the largest sneaker contract at the time. But Iverson wasn't just about the money. He attributed his decision to sign with Reebok to the loyalty and respect he was shown.
Reebok Question
Widely considered Allen Iverson's most popular and recognizable signature shoe, the Question was introduced for his 96-97 Rookie of the Year campaign. After Iverson famously wore Air Jordan 11s at Georgetown, Scott Hewett designed a Reebok model with a similar toe cap overlay, a Ghillie lacing system, and a clear outsole.
Reebok Answer 1
The first shoe in the Answer series featured a hidden lacing system, the 2000 Series midsole, and visible DMX cushioning.
In the 1996 NBA Draft, Iverson was selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. At 6 feet tall, he was the shortest player ever chosen first, and that in a league usually dominated by taller players.
He immediately made a splash, leading his team with 23.5 PPG and being named Rookie of the Year in 1997. His quickness and signature crossover dribble often left even the best defenders helpless.
Off the court, his baggy clothes, flashy jewelry, and braided hair didn't fit the image the NBA wanted to promote.
In his early years in the league, he frequently clashed with coaches and team officials, was portrayed by the media as a selfish, disruptive player, and had several run-ins with the law. Nevertheless, he developed a large following of young fans who identified with his rebellious image.
Despite the controversies that followed him, Iverson proved his talent on the court by winning the league scoring title in 1998-99, and the scoring title, steals title, and Most Valuable Player award in 2000-01, while leading the 76ers to the NBA Finals.
In the middle of the 2006-07 season, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, where he played alongside young superstar Carmelo Anthony. Iverson was an extremely good scorer and in 2007 became the sixth-fastest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points. However, Denver did not advance past the first round of the playoffs, and Iverson expressed a desire to play for a contender.
After disappointing years with the Pistons, Grizzlies, and Besiktas (Turkey), he announced his retirement from professional basketball in 2013...
... as one of the greatest (probably the greatest) players who never won a ring.
