Michael Chang started pumping his Reeboks in 1990. For the first time since 2016, Reebok invites us all to do the same, as they are set to release a retro version of the tennis-specific Court Victory Pump in white, green, and yellow on March 15. 

The Pump and Hexalite—a honeycomb-shaped cushioning system—both make a return. And the yellow tennis ball again serves as the pumping mechanism on the tongue, easily the most powerful technology/style tie-in across the history of the sport’s sneakers. The midcut height and TPU and rubber reinforcement across the shoe’s upper give us a true retro feel on the Court Victory Pump. 

The Reebok Pump technology created cultural cachet shortly after it was introduced at the end of 1989. It was worn by Dominique Wilkins while he won the NBA slam dunk contest in 1990 and then the next year when Dee Brown paused during the contest to pump up his Reeboks before winning the 1991 iteration. But basketball wasn’t the only home for the pump, as Reebok outfitted Chang in the tennis-specific Court Victory Pump, a sneaker statement he first made at the 1990 French Open as the tennis ball pump mechanism popped from his shoes. 

Since that time Reebok has sent the retro into the wild a handful of times, the most recent version released in 2016. Now we get a retro version of the Court Victory Pump, available for $160, complete with the famous tech and ’90s-inspired style.  

Really, though, all we really care about is that tennis ball pump. Now we have it. 

Follow Tim Newcomb’s tennis gear coverage on Instagram at Felt Alley Tennis.