Allen Iverson’s Reebok Question arrived in 1996. It’s being renovated for 2026

The Reebok Question Mid sneaker, which former NBA star Allen Iverson debuted as a rookie in 1996, returns with improved performance features.

On November 10th, the Reebok Question Mid Recoded will be available online at Reebok and Foot Locker for $170. It will be available in the original “Red Toe” and “30th Anniversary Green” colorways.

Unlike previous Reebok Question retros, the Recoded model features redesigned technology and a slim fit adapted to today’s pace of play.

“We knew this shouldn’t be a standard re-release,” Kevin Duke, global product director of Reebok Basketball, told Andscape. “We’ve told this story before.”

Much like Nike’s popular Kobe Protro line, the Reebok Question Mid Recoded modernizes an archival basketball shoe with improved performance features.

Reebok Basketball designer Anthony Hale led the anniversary project, reflecting the aesthetic of the original 1996 sneaker.

The premium leather upper is reshaped for a more forgiving fit and paired with upgraded tooling from Reebok’s Engine A basketball line.

The outsole’s original traction pattern is reimagined for modern play. Supercritical foam modules provide a lighter alternative to the original Hexalite cushioning, while a new midsole stability plate provides increased torque and control.

When asked why the Question – now a 30-year-old shoe – could reach a new, younger audience, Reebok’s Duke was blunt.

“Because the issue isn’t just about Iverson,” he said. “It’s about the doubters hitting him. The shoe literally got its name from the question marks around him being an undersized rookie.”

As the 1996-97 NBA Rookie of the Year, Iverson averaged 23.5 points and 7.5 assists per game with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite being 6 feet tall and 165 pounds, the 21-year-old rookie finished seventh in the NBA in scoring while wearing the Reebok Question.

“This shoe has always been about doing things your own way and not asking permission,” Allen Iverson said in a statement. “Question Mid Recoded keeps that same energy alive for the next generation.”

This new generation is already taking shape within Reebok Basketball’s growing roster of NBA, WNBA and collegiate athletes.

Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr., a 19-year-old rookie who ranks eighth in the NBA with 26.3 points per game, has drawn comparisons to Iverson in terms of looks and attitude.

Acuff, a 6-2, 186-pound point guard, leads NBA rookies in scoring, assists and minutes per game.

Acuff, Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, Washington Wizards guard Tre Mann and Milwaukee Bucks forward Nate Ament are all Reebok fans who deeply revere Iverson.

“Almost every player on our team grew up learning about Allen and what he did for the game,” Duke said. “Darius dove all the way. He spoke publicly about how much of his own game came from studying AI and what Allen meant to him off the court.”

Reebok plans to release a signature shoe for Acuff, who currently sports player-exclusive editions of the Reebok Engine A.

WNBA stars including Angel Reese, DiJonai Carrington, Aneesah Morrow and Lauren Betts are also active Reebok ambassadors.

Reebok chose St. John’s sophomore Tounde Yessoufou, who holds a NIL contract with the brand, as the focal point of its Question Mid Recoded shoot.

Although the 20-year-old guard can’t wear a Reebok in matches due to his school’s Adidas sponsorship, his rise as an immigrant from Cotonou, Benin, resonates deeply with the shoe’s bold spirit.

“Tounde is cut from the exact same Reebok Question fabric,” Duke said. “He came here at 3 p.m. without speaking a word of English.”

Yessoufou broke the all-time California high school record. In his only season at Baylor, he set the freshman scoring record.

Reebok hopes Yessoufou and others will bring the Question to a new generation. With the likes of Acuff and even tennis icon Naomi Osaka gracing his style, Iverson remains committed to keeping his shoes on a fashion-forward trajectory.

“He was always clear that the game kept moving forward, and he never wanted his shoes to stand still,” Duke said. “I’m not sure there’s a figure in sports who talks more about ‘now’ than Allen.”

The 30th anniversary of Iverson’s first sneaker seems more about inspiring the future than celebrating the past.

While the Recoded concept will appear on future retro model releases, that’s not the sole focus of the upcoming Iverson-inspired Reebok releases.

Duke said the next chapter “isn’t retro at all”, but rather offers something that “takes everything Allen’s line taught us about design and builds something new for today’s game”.

“Retro basketball shoes have largely become expensive, one-dimensional museum pieces that you put on shelves,” Duke said. “We do not think that the Question should be limited to that.”