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posted Feb. 16, 2005

The Pump ATR sneaker (left) that Allen Iverson will wear in the 2005 All-Star Game along with Andre Iguodala's Nike Air Force Operate and Kyle Korver's AND 1 Rekanize.

Is It The Shoes?
Allen Iverson, Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala are all getting some special footwear from their shoe companies to use during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Nike is putting together an All-Star shoe for Iguodala, and Korver will be wearing a new design from And 1, the Rekanize Mid. The white, red and black shoe will be customized for Korver with the initials “KK” on the heel and “Proverbs 3, 5&6” stitched on the toe.

Reebok is returning to its roots somewhat for Allen Iverson.

“I think they’re bringing back the old pump,” Iverson said. “This is the first time I’ve ever worn a pump shoe.”

Indeed, the Pump ATR shoe that Iverson will wear is designed around “The Pump” technology that became a craze when the company introduced it in 1989 for then-Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins. The shoe is predominantly white with blue and red trim.

When Iverson works with Reebok to create a shoe, normally the company will send him several pictures of prototypes. Iverson will usually choose one and make some changes to it, such as the placement of colors or other elements. But the design of the All-Star shoe was short and sweet, and fit Iverson’s tastes perfectly.

“With the All-Star shoe, they basically brought that to me saying ‘This is your shoe,’” he said. “I didn’t have any input on that at all. I guess they already had this planned. But I loved it.”

Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout Participants Three-Point Stats As Of Feb. 16 Player 3FG-3FGA Pct. Kyle Korver, PHI 149-368 .405 Ray Allen, SEA 121-328 .369 Joe Johnson, PHX 109-239 .456 Vladimir Radmanovic, SEA 110-267 .412 Quentin Richardson, PHX 165-459 .359 Voshon Lenard, DEN 2-6 .333

Three-Point Breakdown
The three-pointer can be a fickle thing. Sometimes a shooter is on, sometime’s he’s not. For Kyle Korver, that notion will likely play some role in how he does in the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout on Saturday night. But on paper, Korver stacks up well against the other participants.

Korver is scheduled to go up against Seattle’s Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic, Phoenix’s Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson, and defending champion Voshon Lenard of Denver.

Lenard hasn’t played since tearing his Achilles on Nov. 2. Compared to the other four players who have been active throughout the season, Korver’s 40.5 percent success rate is third, behind Johnson’s 45.6 and Radmanovic’s 41.2. But Korver has made more three pointers – 149 – than either of those two. In fact, he sits second behind Richardson, who’s made 165 threes this season, but they’ve come on 459 three-point attempts. Korver has made just 16 fewer threes, but has taken 91 fewer shots.

Taking A Break
Since Sixers Head Coach Jim O'Brien is a defensive-minded coach, and the All-Star game is generally a place where defense is not welcome, it could be understandable if O'Brien didn't have much interest in the game. But he does plan on taking it in.

"It's not supposed to be a defensive battle," O'Brien said. "It's supposed to be something for the fans and the players, and I will watch it because Allen is in the game."

However, that's about all the basketball O'Brien plans on exposing himself to during the break, which starts Thursday for the Sixers. The club won't be in action again until they visit the Knicks on Feb. 24.

"My goal is always to not hear a basketball bounce in person, if I can help it, over the All-Star break," O'Brien said.