In 2010, before he ever played an NBA game, John Wall made headlines by signing a reported $25 million endorsement deal with Reebok, choosing the brand over offers from industry giants like Nike, Jordan Brand, and Under Armour. At just 19 years old, Wall wanted to help revive a basketball division that had lost momentum after the era dominated by Allen Iverson, whose influence played a major role in Wall’s decision to join the brand.

The centerpiece of that partnership was the Reebok Zig Slash, a performance sneaker built on Reebok’s distinctive ZigTech cushioning platform. Wall famously wore the shoe during his pre-draft workout with the Washington Wizards, the team that would later select him with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

For many young hoopers—especially in the DMV region—the Zig Slash quickly became one of the most recognizable basketball shoes on the court. Even though Wall’s partnership with Reebok only lasted a few years before he later moved to Adidas, the moment marked a brief resurgence for Reebok Basketball and helped define the early excitement surrounding Wall’s electrifying arrival to the league.