Michael Jordan’s Nike Bond Influenced Rival Reebok’s 27-Year Ties With 48YO “Poster Child”

Michael Jordan was the biggest influence on Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson, to become an icon in the shoe industry. Having witnessed everything Michael Jordan had accomplished with the Jordan brand, Iverson wanted to have a similar relationship with Reebok to make his dreams come true. It looks like Iverson has succeeded in his journey, as fans love Iverson’s signature shoes from Reebok which are still hits, years after he retired from playing professional basketball.

The 2001 MVP said, “Shoutout to Reebok. The way they keep my name alive. The loyalty and the love they have for me. I think it’s awesome. And I think I will be the poster child of relationships… with shoe brands forever. Obviously, I am the biggest Michael Jordan fan ever. I saw the way he did it, and I tried to emulate it in my own style.”

During a recent interview with Slam Kicks, Allen Iverson was asked when the last time was that he saw someone rocking his iconic Reebok Question Mid. Iverson quickly responded that he saw one earlier the same day, showing the legacy that he has built. The Question Mid was initially released back in 1996, and to this day, people are still wearing it. Iverson is also grateful that Reebok is manufacturing it and is still loyal to Iverson by keeping his name on the shoes.

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Apart from the money that he received from Reebok, Iverson understood that he could become a star like Michael Jordan if he had his own brand. Nike and the Jordan Brand were synonymous with Michael Jordan at the time, but Iverson wanted to build a name for himself. Thus, he signed with Reebok, and the rest is history.

Iverson’s devotion to Michael Jordan almost cost him millions

Back in 1996, when Iverson was gearing up for the NBA after his time at Georgetown, he received offers from both Nike and Reebok. Nike offered him $10 million for 5 years, while Reebok offered him $50 million for 10 years. Being a die-hard fan of Michael Jordan, Iverson still kept Nike in consideration.

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But it was only after he talked with John Thompson, who was on the board of directors at Nike at the time, that Iverson changed his mind. When Iverson told Thompson of the offers that he had received, Thompson made it clear to him that it was a no-brainer and that he should take the deal from Reebok.

Reebok was the first brand to give Iverson the respect he deserved. Apart from that, they also did everything they could to make Iverson a star off the court. From making custom shoes for Iverson on one day’s notice to giving him a $50 million contract that will pay off when he turns 55, Reebok has done everything to keep Iverson’s best interests in mind.