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The close relationship between NBA legends Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson is well-documented. Throughout their nearly three-decade friendship, Jordan had always played the role of Iverson’s big brother.
Today, we learn that their friendship almost included a major business deal that would rewrite sneaker history. After being selected No. 1 in the 1996 NBA Draft, Iverson attended pitch meetings with all the major sneaker companies. One of those meetings was with Nike, which included the reveal of Jordan Brand’s signature sneakers.
in a recent episode sneaker shoppingLater, Iverson confirmed the rumors that he would become the first signature athlete to sign with Jordan Brand in 1996. Nike’s nascent sub-brand even showed Iverson a prototype of its “Bubba Chuck” basketball shoe.
Unfortunately, images of the unreleased basketball shoes don’t exist. However, it’s being described as a hybrid of Jason Kidd’s Nike Air Zoom Flight 95 and Air Jordan 11 – oh, what could it be.
Iverson was confident in his decision to sign with Reebok, as the two partners created a strong catalog of signature sneakers that are still releasing new colorways to this day. Fans looking to purchase Iverson’s retro signature sneakers can choose from a variety of styles on the Reebok website.
From a financial perspective, there’s no denying that Iverson made the right decision. Iverson signed a ten-year, $50 million contract before the start of his rookie season. Five years later, he signed a lifetime contract that included $800,000 per year for the rest of his life, plus access to a $32 million trust fund on his 55th birthday.
From a legacy standpoint, Iverson follows in the footsteps of Shaquille O’Neal. Fast forward to 2023, O’Neal was named President of Reebok Basketball and selected Iverson as Vice President. Keep it locked to FanNationKicks.com for all the footwear news from the world of sports.