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When it comes to influence and impact on the game and culture of basketball, Allen Iverson is about as important as it gets. Much like Michael Jordan, his style on and off the court saw fans frolic, rules change and even peers pick up on his trendsetting.
Influence aside, like MJ, AI got it done on the court and he got it done in his signature line. Spanning 14 flagship silos, Allen Iverson’s signature Reebok line is behind only the Air Jordan line in length and now LeBron’s line.
While those numbers impress, his numbers in the stat sheet are even stronger. Get a history of AI’s Reebok line and his many accolades as we celebrate the return of the Answer V.
Congrats AI!
RELATED: The Rise of Allen Iverson and Reebok Basketball | Allen Iverson – True to the Game
Rookie Season: Reebok Question
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 23.5 PPG, 7.5 APG, 4.1 RPG & 2.1 SPG
Accolades: Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Rookie Challenge MVP
In a draft class that included the likes of Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, and many, many more eventual All-NBAers, Allen Iverson proved to be the star of stars in their introductory season. Going #1 overall, AI took home Rookie of the Year honors by becoming the alpha dog in Philly thanks to his fearless play and lightning in a bottle athleticism. A signature star since Day 1, Bubba Chuck would cross MJ and make history in the Reebok Question.
Second Season: Reebok Answer 1
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 22 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.7 RPG & 2.2 SPG
Sophomore slump? Numbers were down slightly but everyone was still high on Allen Iverson during his second season. Playing in and starting 80 games, the 6′ star proved durable as did his shoe line. The Reebok Answer 1 saw a formal follow up to the Question and also a new direction. Introducing a new name for the series and nickname for AI, the Answer 1 also saw DMX debut on his line. Far different functionally and foundationally than Hexalite before, DMX was most visible on the outsole and relied on podular, moving air. It was extremely comfy and would be adapted on later models.
Third Season: Reebok Answer II
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 26.8 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.9 RPG & 2.3 SPG
Accolades: NBA Scoring Champ, All-NBA First Team
Following an All-Star snub the year prior and a cancelled follow up due to the lockout, AI went H.A.M. his third season by taking home his first Scoring Title and getting an All-NBA First Team nod. On top of that, his team success was at an all-time high as the Sixers made the Playoffs for the first time in his young career. His signature series was still strong as the Reebok Answer II saw a clean successor to the flashy and aggressive Answer I. Also known as the Answer Lite, the shoe debuted the lighter, less visible DMX Lite cushioning. Nods to his alma mater appeared on one colorway, while others kept it clean or played with the Sixers scheme.
Fourth Season: Reebok Answer III
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 28.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.8 RPG & 2.1 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
Finally an All-Star, Allen Iverson saw his highest scoring average and his highest expectations yet in his fourth season. Following his first playoff trip, the Sixers would advance to the second round but once again get put out by the Pacers. On the foot, the Reebok Answer III saw the spread of his line with team shoe takes eventually outfitting the likes of Michigan State, UCLA and other Reebok schools.
Fifth Season: Reebok Answer IV
Top photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 31.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.8 RPG & 2.5 SPG
Accolades: MVP, NBA Scoring Champ, All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP, NBA Steals Leader
Already the man but still an underdog in the sea of stars, AI became a living legend in his fifth season. Rocking the Reebok Answer IV, Iverson led a blue collar Sixers squad to the NBA Finals against the Showtime sequel Lakers. Handing Shaq, Kobe and Co. their first loss of the postseason in Game 1 of the Finals in LA, Allen would lose the series but win the respect of all. In 2001, AI took home Home Depot hardware, winning the league’s MVP award, taking the scoring title once again, leading the NBA in steals and being crowned the All-Star Game’s MVP.
Sixth Season: Reebok Answer V
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 31.4 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.5 RPG & 2.8 SPG
Accolades: NBA Scoring Champ, NBA Steals Leader, NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
Success breeds envy, but it also breeds more success. Such was seen in AI’s sixth season as he followed up MVP honors with back-to-back scoring and steals titles. However, injuries and controversy plagued the season, eventually leading to an early exit in the first round of the playoffs. Fortunately, his signature series was still strong as the Reebok Answer V was a smash hit. Clean colorways and awesome ads had the shoe selling across the country.
Seventh Season: Reebok Answer VI
Right photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images via Spox
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 27.6 APG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG & 2.7 SPG
Accolades: NBA Steals Leader, NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
After an injury plagued sixth season, AI silenced anyone who doubted his durability by playing in all 82 games and averaging over 42 minutes a night. The ironman saw strong numbers all across the board, but the very tough Pistons proved to be too much in the second round of the playoffs. His shoe series saw the clunky but contemporary Answer VI, which marked the return of the zipper famously seen on the Answer IV.
Eighth Season: Reebok Answer VII
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 26.4 PPG, 6.8 APG, 3,7 RPG & 2.4 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star
Larry Brown’s departure from Philly would make for trying times for both Iverson and the Sixers franchise. Injuries would once again sting his season while the Sixers would miss the playoffs for the first time in years. The Answer VII would score this underachieving season, but still prove popular thanks to clean design and colorways that honored his high school career and All-Star accolades.
Ninth Season: Reebok Answer VIII
Right photo by Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images via Sports Vision
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 30.7 PPG, 7.9 APG, 4 RPG & 2.4 SPG
Accolades: NBA Scoring Champ, First Team All-NBA, NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP
Down but not out, AI bounced back the next season by averaging over 30 points a game and taking home another scoring title. He’d make the All-NBA First Team once again and nab his second All-Star Game MVP. Team additions of Chris Webber and rookie Andre Iguodala would bring his assist numbers back up and help the team return to the playoffs. However, they’d run into old coach Larry Brown and his new team, the Detroit Pistons, for another early exit. The Reebok Answer VIII wouldn’t prove as popular as previous signatures, but it would show nods to the Question in regards to speed lacing and a wavy toe box.
Tenth Season: Reebok Answer IX
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 33 PPG, 7.4 APG, 3.2 RPG & 1.9 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star, All-NBA Third Team
AI continued to put numbers on the board in his tenth season by averaging a career-high 33 points a night. Unfortunately, the team struggled as they once again missed the playoffs. His signature series once again paid homage to the past, this time incorporating Reebok’s famed Pump technology for the first time. The strapped styling on the Answer IX didn’t see the same crossover success as previous pairs, but it did make for a tough, aggressive look that matched his game.
Eleventh Season: Reebok Answer X
Left photo via HHUCIT & right photo via Allen Iverson Live
Team: Philadelphia 76ers/Denver Nuggets
Stats: 26.3 PPG, 7.2 APG, 3 RPG, 1.9 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star
After years of trade talks, AI finally took flight in Year 11 by making the move to Denver. Joining Carmelo Anthony, the new-look Nuggets featured the league’s top two scorers. Iverson and Melo made it to the playoffs that season, but got bounced early by the eventual champs, the San Antonio Spurs. From a footwear standpoint, the Reebok Answer X basically saw a slimmer stance on the ideals of the Answer IX. Switching teams put his signature series in a bit of a tough spot from a colorway perspective, with AI going back to the Question for a bit and Reebok eventually releasing Nuggets makeups.
Twelfth Season: Reebok Answer XI
Right photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images & left photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images, both via Zimbio
Team: Denver Nuggets
Stats: 26.4 PPG, 7.1 APG, 3 RPG & 2 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star
Iverson’s first full season with the Nuggets saw good health as he played in and started all 82 games. Nevertheless, the year ended in another first round exit. His Reebok Answer XI model saw his signature line still in production, taking a turn from the styling on previous pairs. This time around, the shoe dropped in Denver do-ups and featured an aggressive but more classic design.
Thirteenth Season: Reebok Answer XII
Left & middle photos by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images and right photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, all via Zimbio
Team: Denver Nuggets/Detroit Pistons
Stats: 17.5 PPG, 5 APG, 3 RPG & 1.5 SPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star
Traded for Chauncey, AI’s move to Detroit was one to forget. Chemistry was off for the Pistons who looked to win while their window was closing and Iverson was in the middle of it all. Still popular with the fans, he made another All-Star Game but his regular season numbers were way, way down. The Answer line was once again caught in trade winds, however the XII looked more inline with the identity of the series than recent renditions.
Fourteenth Season: Reebok Answer XIII
Left photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images & right photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images, both via Zimbio
Team: Memphis Grizzlies/Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 13.8 PPG, 4 APG & 2.8 RPG
Accolades: NBA All-Star
While Iverson’s final season was also forgettable, it did end back home in Philly. While his latter years were marred with trades and team chemistry issues, it can’t be forgotten that AI was one of the toughest, most electric, fearless and influential stars the game had ever seen. His signature line ended with the basic but futuristic Answer XIII, putting him only by Air Jordan himself as the longest tenured signature athlete of all time.
RELATED: The Rise of Allen Iverson and Reebok Basketball | Allen Iverson – True to the Game
For complete AI stats, check out Basketball-Reference. For more on his pre and post NBA career, check out his very detailed Wikipedia page.
