Why is Allen Iverson's first signature shoe Answer IV called the 'most disrespectful sneaker of all time'?
Allen Iverson has remained one of the greatest guards in the history of the game long after his retirement. The 11-time All-Star's quickness allowed him to create separation from defenders, whether it was Michael Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal tasked with guarding him. For as iconic of a career as he had, Iverson's style off the court was the perfect complement to his playing style on the floor.
With such an unmatched style, it seems only fitting that Allen Iverson's shoes have remained one of the most polarizing shoes in basketball history. From having a picture of Iverson's face inside the sole to the signature zip-up shroud that covered the laces, Allen Iverson's shoes were incredibly unique. When it comes to performance tests, the shoes don't hold up compared to the best of the best.
Despite that, Iverson had no problem putting defenders on skates and scoring with ease in the shoes. When the Philadelphia 76ers hid his shoes to keep him from playing while he was injured, Iverson reportedly offered to pay someone to go buy a pair from Walmart. When he carried the team to the NBA Finals, he had no problem putting up 48 points and shocking the world.
Time and time again, Iverson showed the world what could be done in a pair of his signature 'Reebok Answer' shoes. Given that, GQ has proclaimed the shoe he wore during his famous crossover of Tyronn Lue 'the most disrespectful sneaker of all time.' Of course, whether Iverson crossed over Lue, or if the latter stepped on Iverson's foot is heavily disputed.
"It does not come with the promise of getting you that extra inch closer to dunking, nor does it come decked out in performance modifications to help you get that jump shot off a little bit smoother. Rather, the shoe is a reminder of what one six-foot guard did to the guys who thought he’d take an L lying down. Let disrespect be met with disrespect."
Check out the footage of Iverson crossing over Lue, and then stepping over him in the video below.
The lifetime deal Reebok made to produce Allen Iverson's shoes
During his career, Iverson became the face of Reebok's basketball shoes, thanks to a partnership that turned into a lifetime deal. According to reports, Iverson earns nearly a million dollars a year, thanks to the deal. To make things even sweeter, Iverson is reportedly set to receive a check for $32 million on his 55th birthday.
Considering the fact that there were reports of Iverson struggling financially after retirement, the Reebok deal has been huge for the former MVP. At the age of 47, Iverson is closing in on the 55-year milestone that will see him earn a huge payday.
Reebok continues to produce Allen Iverson's shoes to this day. Every year, the shoe company releases several new colorways of the 'Question' and the 'Answer' shoes. Although no current NBA player laces up the iconic shoes, they've continued to be one of the most polarizing and unique in the history of the game.