By Odeisel

Yesterday, the good folks at Reebok invited Planet Ill and a select few to the unveiling of their new ZigTech Slash and to announce their newest signing, Kentucky Wildcat point guard and expected 2010 NBA Draft #1 pick John Wall. Wall is the first basketball athlete wearing sneakers that use the ZigTech shoe which is designed to return kinetic energy to the user to enhance explosion.

Wall is no stranger to Reebok. In 2007 he took part in a Reebok promotion, having competed in The Reebok Breakout Camp. His performance against future pros like Milwaukie Bucks guard Brandon Jennings served as his coming out party and established him on the watch list. After a stellar freshman year in Kentucky blue, including an overall 3.5 GPA off the court, Wall decided to take his show to the big stage.  Humble and even a bit nervous, he steps into the limelight as the house that Iverson reinvented with a desire to succeed and become one of the game’s best.

Planet Ill was able to check out the new kicks up close and personal and interview both Wall and Reebok’s President of Sports and Entertainment to get a look at why Reebok chose Wall, why Wall chose Reebok, the demands of selling an aesthetic to the urban market and much more.  Reebok, in the same vein as The Pump 20 years ago stand poised to do it again with Zigtech and the timing of the announcement, with the NBA Draft this evening couldn’t be timed better. Enjoy the press conference in its entirety, our interview with wall (we’re the second set of four questions, and of course, the new kicks. Peace

Press Conference

John Wall Interview (Talks His Father, Defense, Comparisons To Gary Payton, Academic Achievement)

Reebok Interview (Talks Iverson, The Pump, Selling Shoes to Urban America)

Differences Between Marketing John Wall and Allen Iverson