How Allen Iverson returned to Reebok, a brand he once used as an athlete, to become its VP of basketball

Allen Iverson is a retired NBA player who played 14 seasons in the NBA at both the shooting guard and point guard positions. Nicknamed “the Answer”, he largely played for the Philadelphia 76ers until he called it quits.

In his prime, Iverson signed a lifelong endorsement deal with Reebok, which included an annual payout of $800,000, and he will receive a $32 million trust on his 55th birthday thanks to the deal he signed in 2001.

Since his retirement, he has reinvented himself as an entrepreneur and a business leader. From cannabis to athleisure, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), shoes, and beyond, Iverson now works with Reebok alongside Shaquille O’Neal.

He was brought on board to assist in Reebok’s community work and growth. He serves as the company’s vice president of basketball while O’Neal serves as Reebok’s president of basketball.

“AI is a founding father of Reebok Basketball and has left a lasting impact on the game and its surrounding culture,” O’Neal said in an interview with Boardroom. “There is no one I’d rather work with to bring in a new generation of ballers to Reebok than him. Shaq and AI back at it — feels good.”

Iverson will “help drive player recruitment, grassroots and community-based initiatives, and athlete activations like the Iverson Classic” while Shaq focuses on recruitment of players to the brand, Reebok said last year.

Before retiring from the NBA, Iverson was an 11-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion, seven-time All-NBA selection, the 2000-01 MVP and a two-time All-Star MVP. In celebration of his dominance, one of Reebok’s first releases of 2024 is a tribute to Iverson. His fourth signature sneaker is being released in an OG colorway. The Reebok Answer III ‘White/Black’ colorway will be released on Friday, January 19, Men’s Journal reported.