Reebok created the Reebok Pump, the adjustable basketball-shoe technology unveiled at the 1989 NBA All-Star Game.
The Pump system used an inflatable bladder around the shoe’s tongue and collar. Pressing the external pump increased the fit around the wearer’s foot, while a release valve allowed the air to be removed. The technology was developed to give athletes more adjustable support than a fixed upper could provide.
Reebok introduced the Pump at the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, where Dominique Wilkins wore the Pump Omni Lite during the Slam Dunk Contest. The event gave the technology major visibility and helped establish it as a defining feature of late-1980s basketball footwear.
The Pump is sometimes mistaken for a Nike Air cushioning system. Nike Air cushions the sole, while Reebok’s Pump changes the fit around the upper. Reebok later adapted the system for tennis, running, and other sports shoes.