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Nice Kicks: Are there plans for any NBA players to wear the Reebok Question in the near future?
Todd Krinsky: John Wall. He grew up loving AI. When we signed John Wall, we had Allen come to meet him and talk about Reebok. They have a really cool relationship. John wore the Question for one game and he’ll wear it again next year. He’s going to wear some other Iverson product too. John will still have his own signature line, but he’ll wear it occasionally. We may have a couple other players wear it through out the year; we’re looking to sign a few other young guys that may wear it once in a while. We’re trying to find a balance between celebrating AI and having some of the younger guys wear the retro product, but still make sure consumers know we’re building new, fresh product as well.
Nice Kicks: You’ve stated that Allen is very involved in the process. How important is it that the Question stays true to Allen Iverson?
Todd Krinsky: This is his legacy. I think it’s really important that he’s cool with everything we’re doing and that he’s involved and he his. He flew up to New York to be in the Street Knock video with A$AP Rocky and Swizz Beatz. He wanted to be involved in that, he wants to be with involved new colors we’re doing, and he’s asking when we’re launching what. I think it’s important that Allen’s stamp is still on this. I’m not really sure how the other brands work and I’m not really sure when the other brand’s bring product back if they engage the athlete. I don’t know how they do it. For us, it was really important that we went to AI and said, “Hey this is what we’re planning on doing. We want to do it in 2012 and we want you to be involved.” It’s cool also because he’s a lot more interested now. A few years ago if I’d of told him we’re bringing back the Question he’d be like, “Alright, cool.” Now he has to be. He’s like, “How many colors are we going to do? Where are we selling it? Are we selling it outside of the US?” He asks a lot of the right questions. He’s a lot more aware of his legacy not only on the court but in the shoe game as well, because he has one of the longest running franchises in the shoe game and he’s interested in the legacy of that.
Nice Kicks: In that regard, what can we expect in terms of upcoming colorways and Iverson releases?
Todd Krinsky: We’re looking at a few other Question colors that we actually created but were really never released. We’re also looking at a couple of other original colors. The May 25th launch will be the big drop. People always ask why the Question was so successful and I always say that a lot of elements need to happen for a signature shoe to work. The player has to perform at a certain level and have a certain style, the shoe has to be right, and he has to have a great season. That’s what happened with the Question: Rookie of the Year, the crossover on Mike, the shoe, everything. I think 2001 was another kind of lightning-in-a-bottle type year. He won MVP that year, he had the step over on Tyronn Lue, they went to the Finals against the Lakers, and he went off in Game 1 — and that was the Answer IV. We’re going to bring that shoe back at some point in 2012. We’re looking at all those great moments with AI and looking to re-release those shoes in a very tight way. There are a few other things that will happen with AI throughout the year, but we’re focusing on the White/Red Questions. It’s the original, the time is right, the buzz is great, and we think it’s going to be a pretty good launch.
Reebok Question Mid White/RedNice Kicks: Moving forward, what do you want the next generation to get from Allen Iverson and the Question re-release?
Todd Krinsky: Right now, we’re really interested in two things. We’re interested in bring back the shoes in a very responsible way so that the right kids get them and we keep them limited for the future. The second thing that we’re trying to do is introduce younger kids to who Allen Iverson was. Because chances are that if you’re 16 or 17, your favorite player was influenced by AI and because of that felt that it’s okay to express yourself through tattoos, or headbands, or how you want to wear your hair or your shorts. That was all driven by one guy that just said, “I’m gonna be who I want to be.” I think that’s a very powerful message. We’re just hoping through his style of play and through some of the interviews we’re going to have him do that young kids start to know or remember who he was. My son’s only ten and he asks me all the time about who AI is like on court. It’s hard for me to name one person that Allen is kind of like today because he’s such a different kind of player. Of course we want to put the product out there and we want kids to be able to buy the product again, but we also really want young kids to know who AI was.
