On Monday, this year’s class of inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame were announced. Among them was Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, Tom Izzo and Sheryl Swoopes.
Iverson, O’Neal and Ming all have something in common: They’re Reebok-sponsored athletes. But following the announcement, Iverson appeared on ESPN’s “Sports Center” wearing a brand other than Reebok.
Iverson had Jordans on his feet, and it had some puzzled as to why. NBA fans might remember that when Iverson signed his deal with Reebok, it included a reported $32 million trust that he could receive when he turned 55. During divorce proceedings with his ex-wife Tawanna, he also reportedly lost the money to her.
Regardless, he’s still a Reebok athlete, so he took to Instagram to explain why he was wearing Jordans during the appearance:
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“I am Reebok for life but today I’m paying tribute to the man who gave me the vision, the Greatest of All Time, MJ.”
Iverson also shared a video of Michael Jordan congratulating him on the honor.
His Reebok signature shoe, the Question — and later the Answer — has continued to be a favorite among basketball fans and sneakerheads.
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