The best way to describe The Answer IV to someone who’s never seen it is this: a sleek and streamlined update of The Question. The Answer IV utilized similar colorblocking and the same ghilly lacing, but featured a lower cut and a zip-up upper, as well as new tech—full-length DMX as opposed to Hexalite—in the midsole.

“The Answer IV, we really set out to create a lightweight shoe with a great speed graphic,” says Reebok Global VP Todd Krinsky. “So when you look at the Answer IV, it’s got a very strong front-to-back graphic that goes throughout the shoe. We created shoes that have a 3M reflective shot because we were always wondering what a shoe would look like when it was shot, flashes going on in the arena. It’s got a 3D Ultralite bottom so it makes the shoe two or three ounces lighter than a normal rubber shoe—back in the day before there was light everywhere, it was one of the lightest basketball shoes. And then from a fashion perspective we added the zipper, and so kids could wear it laced up when they were playing, and they could zipper it down with jeans when they weren’t playing.”

Iverson’s personality, by then well-established in NBA circles, was all over the shoe as well. “Only The Strong Survive,” the lettering of one of his earliest tattoos, appears on the outsole, as well as a stark black-and-white impression of his face, complete with his signature headband and braids.

“I was just happy to have my own shoe—that was my dream, that was one of my biggest dreams,” Iverson says now. “Obviously to make it to the NBA, but to have my own signature shoe, I mean, nothin’ topped that. I couldn’t wait to put ‘em on…. And then to have an MVP shoe, to have a Finals shoe, just a dream come true.”

The retro version is actually truer to the shoe Iverson wore on the court than the original release, as it features a Velcro leather flap over the zipper pull (as dictated by the NBA) rather than a plastic cover like the OGs. You’ll be able to find the black/white Answer IV at select retailers (a full list follows at the bottom) for $115 starting on August 10th, with red/white to follow in the fall—and then who knows?

“One of the reasons we’re bringing back the Iverson collection is because these shoes are timeless,” Krinsky says. “They’re just great designs that look modern and fresh in any era.”

You could say the same thing about the guy who wore them.

For more from Todd and Allen Iverson himself on the Answer IV, check the videos after the jump:

Iverson cupped his hand to his ear and received the loudest ovation of the night. He watched the game from a suite and his eyes watered up when he was shown later in the game on the big screen as the crowd, thousands wearing a No. 3 jersey, went wild and chanted, ”MVP!” Iverson posted on Twitter, ”You can always come home again!!!”

A more revealing moment came during a second-quarter interview with Lisa Salters on ESPN’s telecast.

Asked if he was retired, Iverson told Salters: “I’m not using that word. I wanna play basketball so bad. The way it is right now, I’ve accepted the fact [the NBA] may not happen, but I still want to play basketball. If I can get an opportunity to where it’s gonna make me happy at the end of my career, I’ll take that opportunity.”

However, Iverson denied a widely hyped speculation that he is in talks with some CBA clubs for a contract this summer, saying he hasn’t been approached by any of them.

Pundits and some CBA head coaches hinted that Iverson is not physically ready for pro games. But he insisted he remains a superstar, at least “in the CBA”.

Watch AI show off his handle alongside Swizzy.

YES!  They’re back.  The iconic Reebok Questions, Allen Iverson’s first signature shoe, will be re-released by Reebok later this month.  The official date will be May 25.

Recently, Allen Iverson was spotted rocking the Reebok Questions—his first signature sneaker—during a tour over in China. So, we were pretty sure that they’d be re-released by Reebok at some point. But, now we can tell you that we know for a fact that Reebok will be putting these out again on May 25. As you can see from the photo above, the Questions will be available in a “White/Red” colorway and feature the honeycomb-style air units and the translucent icy blue sole that we’ve all come to know and love.

The release will be hyped and delivered Reebok Creative Director and Iverson fan, Swizz Beatz.

It’s without doubt that Allen Iverson was one of the most influential figures to ever play in the NBA. After a great career at Georgetown University under the mentorship of John Thompson, AI went on to dominate in the league with a career that makes him arguably the best “little man” to ever play the game. Moreover, his presence in hip hop culture is well-documented through his personal style and signature shoe collection with Reebok. The Question, his most celebrated silhouette, is set for a very hyped comeback fueled by Reebok Creative Director and Iverson fan, Swizz Beatz.

A trendsetter in his own right, Iverson’s collection with Reebok was highlighted by the Question – a shoe that in the 90′s graced everyone’s feet and is still classic to this day. The white/red colorways is set to return this month on May 25th. Featuring a predominately white upper, the honeycomb midsole is set off by red accenting and Reebok branding along the lace holes. The AI logo is perched on the heel. Pricing info is not yet available.

Source: China Daily

But apparently, Iverson needs to work at his fitness:

Brendan Suhr, the visiting US team’s head coach, said the 36-year-old, dubbed ”The Answer”,needs more practice to prepare for competition in the CBA.

“He has not played for a year against anyone with that ability, so he’s not that good right now,”Suhr said of Iverson’s current status after leading the US squad to a 119-109 over the Ducks inthe team’s third game in Shenzhen on Thursday.

“It’s very hard (for him) to all of the sudden play against tremendous competition like the Ducks presented. I think he’s going to get better and when he makes shots he will get more confident.

But Marbury is an example:

However, a lot of sweat and pain could make a big difference, as Marbury has shown.

To get ready for his time in the CBA, Marbury said he got into the best shape of his career witha tough training regimen last summer.

The Ducks’ head coach, Min Lulei, believes Iverson could make an impact here as well, as longas he takes the China adventure as seriously as his countryman.

Allen Iverson scored 27 points and also had a number of nice pass. A.I.’s team won 119-109 over Marbury’s team which is the Champion of CBA this year. A.I.’s team has won for three straight game in this China tour.

Courtesy of SLAMOnline:

Allen Iverson is in China for a two-week promotional basketball tour — something billed as the NBA Legends Tour (alongside Iverson will be Dennis Rodman, Clyde Drexler, Shawn Kemp and Stephon Marbury) — but Marbury thinks his former NBA rival would do very well if he stuck around for a while. (After all, Starbury would know.)

FromNiubball: “Shorty after getting on the ground from the U.S. yesterday morning, he fielded questions from Chinese reporters and when when asked if he’d consider playing in the CBA next season, he replied: ‘Why not?’ Iverson has been out of professional basketball since January 2011, when he left Turkish outfit Besiktas after he injured his right calf muscle. This is not the first time Iverson has been linked with a move to the CBA: He flirted with the idea of playing in China in the summer/fall of 2010 and had several serious offers, including a reported $4 million contract from Foshan. Iverson ended up declining Foshan and all other teams, and signed a two-year deal with Bestikas shortly after in October. At this point, there is no indication as to which teams Iverson would be open towards joining. [...] But maybe more importantly, Iverson has a valuable ally in his Chinese corner this time, Stephon Marbury. Fresh off of leading the Beijing Shougang Ducks to their first ever CBA championship, Marbury has grown into a bonefied superstar in China and has been called a hero of Beijing by the city’s millions of inhabitants. Due to a CBA rule that limits both the regular season and Finals MVP award to Chinese players, popular Chinese basketball website, hoopCHINA, has lead a campaign to build Marbury a bronze statue that will commemorate his season in Beijing, a project that has garnered the support of more than 1 million people in China. [...] Marbury, who will play against Iverson for the Legends Tour’s first thee games, returned to Beijing yesterday after a short trip to the United States and was immediately supportive of Iverson joining up with a Chinese team next season. ‘I think [Iverson] will be rejuvenated if he played in China,’ Marbury said on his Sina Weibo account (Chinese Twitter). ‘He would love the fans here if he played basketball here. I hope he can feel the love when he plays here in the coming games.’”

Do you think Allen Iverson should follow Stephon Marbury’s footsteps and play in China?

China Daily Reports:

Following in his arch rival Stephon Marbury’s foot steps, former NBA superstar Allen Iverson is seriously considering joining the Chinese basketball market.

Iverson confirmed on Friday that he will seek to talk with some Chinese basketball clubs and hopes that there is an opportunity for him to play in the country, according to Modern Express.

Iverson arrived in Shanghai on Friday for a two-week promotional basketball tour, where he will team up with other NBA stars including Dennis Rodman, Clyde Drexler, Shawn Kemp to play against three Chinese Basketball Association teams in seven games. The first leg is in Cixi, Zhejiang province on April 28, and the showdown is between the US Legends versus Beijing Ducks.

One employee from the organizing committee of the tour revealed that the eagerness of the former NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001 and four-time scoring champion is inspired by the tremendous success of his old foe Stephon Marbury, who led the Ducks to their first-ever CBA title last season.

It makes Iverson’s possible stay – a long-term one – in China more intriguing as the 37-year-old was spotted wearing a Chinese sports brand T-Shirt – Qiaodan – at a dinner party on Friday night.

Drafted as the No 1 pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, Iverson played 14 years in the NBA, averaging 26.7 points. He was deemed as one of the best shooting guards in the league’s history. He played for the club of Beşiktaş Milangaz in Turkey in the 2009-10 season.

“Just give me a training camp,” he said. “Maybe I’ve rubbed people the wrong way as far as saying the things I’ve said in my life and in my career. But if any team needs me to help try and win a championship in any capacity, I’m waiting.”

“It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “They were great to me. They embraced me like I would never think. Everything was great as far as that experiment.”