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Why Allen Iverson Deserves One Last Chance with the Philadelphia 76ers

Sep 052012

Allen Iverson made headlines again. The 37-year-old point-guard stated his desire to return to the NBA this season, according to a report from the Chinese publication Netease that was translated by Hoopshype.

Iverson also said that he would contemplate a stint in the Chinese league (CBA) to earn a living if the NBA doesn’t come calling.

The 2001 NBA MVP and 11 time All-Star last played in the NBA in the 2009-10 season, only three season ago, starting a handful of games for the Philadelphia 76ers. That season was a disappointment. The team didn’t make the playoffs as they did the year before and won only win 27 games as part of the disaster that was Eddie Jordan’s coaching tenure.

Iverson left the team for good in March after his daughter became ill and was once again denied in his quest to bring a championship to Philly.

AI made a stop in Turkey in the 2010 season. There, he played for Besiktas before disappearing from the basketball universe in 2011, citing a lack of interest.

Attention, Doug Collins and the new owners of the Philadelphia 76ers. Do one more good thing for your fans during this incredible off-season and resign “The Answer”.

Bring AI home!

The Case for a AI

A dominant scorer for a small guard, AI has one of the most unique skill-sets in the history of the game. He could play point guard as he did for the Sixers in the 2004-5 season as well as be a ball hawk on the defensive end of the court.

He will forever have a place in the hearts and minds of Philadelphia sports fans, particularly for the magical 2001 season . He made the Sixers watchable again after the post-Barkley years. Attendance went through the roof during his MVP run. His 2001 Sixers could, and should, have beaten the Lakers to give the Sixers their first title since 1983. But they were over-matched by a supreme Shaq and Kobe.

A player like AI, who can change the landscape of the entire NBA, comes around once a generation. Players started wearing cornrows and embracing a “street” style of game. Focused more on deception, this included moves like the crossover as well as flash. He brought a different kind of energy and feel to the game.

In fact, you could say AI was the complete opposite of MJ.

The “me against the world attitude”. The standoffish behavior. Allen Iverson represented basketball’s counterculture at a time when the league was family-friendly under Michael Jordan.

The beauty of Iverson’s impact lays in the great diversity that the game has given us. He opened a door in the NBA for all different types of personalities and characters to express themselves.

In terms of basketball ability, AI does not fit the mold of a traditional basketball player. He relies mostly on energy, momentum and instinct. He might not be able to run all day like he did as a rookie but he could still make an impact on the current club.

Most importantly, he is a basketball player who could conform to any system that Doug Collins wants him to. The Sixers do not have a real point guard behind Jrue Holiday after Lou Williams left for Atlanta Leaving a void at backup.

The 2012 version of AI may not be the 2001 version of AI but fans and owners can expect to get the same guy. On a great night, he might get 30 easily with a handful of assists in a Sixers win. More reasonably people can expect him to get about fifteen points a game and just provide a spark off the bench.

One thing for sure, this guy who plays on heart and toughness will give you effort as if every game is his last.

And with Bynum in the fold, this may be his best chance at a ring.

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Allen Iverson Doesn’t Deserve Sympathy for Misconception of Being Broke

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May 242012

When former NBA MVP Allen Iverson made an appearance to deliver the game ball last night prior to the Philadelphia 76ers‘ Game 6 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he received a hero’s welcome. While the fans likely view AI as a retired player, though, Iverson himself doesn’t feel that way.

Iverson has continually said that he wants to continue to play in the NBA despite the fact that he hasn’t garnered any interest since unceremoniously departing the Sixers in 2010. Many believe that AI is only saying this because he needs the money, but nothing could be further from the truth.

According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, a source is reporting that Iverson has an account that contains $32 million. While he is prohibited from withdrawing from that account until he is 55, he is fed $1 million annually. That may pale in comparison to the $150 million he made over the course of his career, but he isn’t a pauper by any means.

If you want to feel bad for Iverson because he can’t continue his dream of playing in the NBA then that’s one thing, but his financial situation is something none of us should be worried about. For Iverson’s worth to have dwindled down to this point there is no doubt that he has spent wastefully, but it isn’t difficult in the least to live well with $32 million in the bank.

Perhaps Iverson does want the modest salary he would receive playing in the NBA at the veteran’s minimum, but that can’t be his driving force. It’s clear that AI loves the game and wants to play it for as long as he possibly can. He was often called a selfish player over the course of his career, but until his closing seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, nobody ever questioned his commitment.

With all of that said, no NBA team should have sympathy for Iverson either. If there is a team out there that honestly believes that he can be part of a winning culture, then they ought to sign him. Aside from that, though, there isn’t much reason to bring him in. Teams shouldn’t feel bad for him financially and it’s clear that no team does since he hasn’t been signed to this point.

After the way his career ended, I can’t imagine that any general manager is eager to sign him. His tenures with the Pistons and Grizzlies ended ugly, and his return trip to Philly wasn’t a success either. Iverson was at his best when he was getting a high volume of shots, but at his age his skills have eroded and he can’t be anything other than a bench player.

A bench player with a me-first attitude is never good to have, however, so the chances of Iverson catching on anywhere are quite slim. Don’t shed a tear for him if he never plays another game of basketball again because he was one of the best in the game for many years and he still has more than enough in the bank to get by with.

There is no question that Iverson being broke is a fallacy that was perpetuated by people who can’t understand his love for the game. Whether or not Iverson plays in the NBA again, he’ll always be considered one of the all-time greats. Fans should remember that rather than his tumultuous final season or the rumors that he blew through his considerable fortune.

Most athletes go through hardships at some point during their careers or thereafter, and that has been the case with Iverson. Rumors of his financial demise have been quite premature, though, so it’s truly a non-issue at this point.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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Celtics vs. 76ers: Philadelphia Honors Allen "The Answer" Iverson Before Game 6

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May 232012

The Philadelphia 76ers did something really cool before their pivotal Game 6 matchup against the Boston Celtics tipped off.

Down 3-2 in their best-of-seven series, the home team decided to call upon the greatest player in franchise history for some good luck.

Team co-owner and CEO Adam Aron asked Allen Iverson to hand the game ball to the referees right before the game began. The crowd was roaring in approval and Iverson looked to be soaking up every moment of the warm gesture. Here is a snapshot tweeted out by the official Bleacher Report Twitter feed of AI sitting by the 76ers bench.

Iverson came out wearing a No. 23 Lou Williams jersey, a moment that had to be absolutely thrilling for the 25-year-old.

AI played in Philadelphia for 12 seasons, including a 2001 trip to the NBA Finals. In his career, he won an MVP, Rookie of the Year, played in 11 All-Star games and won the scoring title in four different seasons. He was one of the greatest players of the 2000s and deserves to be recognized for his efforts.

He will forever be associated with this franchise, and it’s a very classy move by the organization to show their support, even at a time when the headlines about him aren’t as positive as they used to be.

The gesture set the fans off into a frenzy, and the crowd noise stayed at a piercing pitch for seemingly the first six minutes of the quarter after Iverson stepped aside.

I think Not Bill Walton speaks for a lot of fans with this tweet after watching the touching pregame festivities:

David Stern would get infinite cool points if he allowed Allen Iverson to actually play in this game.

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) May 24, 2012

Great move by the 76ers, and hopefully the franchise ensures AI remains in the organization’s good graces for a long time.

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter.

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Andre Iguodala Injury: Updates on 76ers Star’s Achilles Injury

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May 022012

The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to do their best to capitalize on the knee injury to Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose, but the team may be facing injury issues of their own.

After stealing Game 2 of the first-round series between the teams, the 76ers may be facing a fate they could not imagine; battling Chicago with an ailing Andre Iguodala.

Director of Public Relations for the Sixers Michael Preston is reporting on Twitter about Iguodala’s injury and his status going forward:

Iguodala listed on #Sixers medical report w/ rt Achilles tendonitis, team expects he will be available Friday. Sixers have off-day on Weds.

— Michael Preston (@preston76) May 2, 2012

With local favorite Ryan Howard suffering from an Achilles injury as well, Philadelphia fans are all too aware of the damage that injury can have on a player. The hope is that with rest, Iguodala will be 100 percent for Game 3 on Thursday.

What It Means

For the Sixers, this will turn into the waiting game. They will have head coach Doug Collins squaring away a possible lineup if AI can’t play and they will have the medical team with Iguodala non-stop.

The hope from the organization is that the Sixers star will play in Game 3 and the rest of the playoffs with little issue.

While the team has learned to not depend on his inconsistent offense, Iguodala is a stat stuffer. He can rebound with the best of them, and his ability to steal pass and shoot makes him one of the best utility players in the NBA.

What’s Next?

Iguodala is the best defender on the Sixers right now, so losing him from the lineup would mean a field day for a player like Luol Deng.

If Philadelphia can get the star healthy, they will have a chance to continue the momentum they built in Game 2 and carry them past the Rose-less Bulls.

The Achilles injury is scary, but the team will play it slow because they know they need him to win the series.

Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NBA Page to get your fill of all things basketball.

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The Hot 2012 Philadelphia 76ers Should Give Allen Iverson 1 More Chance

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Feb 162012

In sports, we love the rare and special athlete who can captivate fans with their play and win over our hearts with their valor.

Guys like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson fit this description well. Fans in Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles have great stories to tell about their homegrown legends.

In Philly, the last legend to come from the Sixers was Allen Iverson, who the team drafted No. 1 overall in 1996.

The 6’0″ guard was deemed too small to play in the NBA, and his attitude in college would not translate to success in the pros, critics said.

He would prove almost everyone wrong , averaging nearly 30 points per game in his career and carried the Sixers to the NBA finals in a magical year in 2001 where he won the MVP.

Iverson would be traded from Philly to Denver in 2006, be traded again to Detroit in 2008 and have a stint with Memphis at the start of the 2009 season before re-signing with the Sixers later that year.

That Sixers’ comeback was disastrous as Philadelphia couldn’t win with their returning hero in the lineup and AI departed shortly after the All-Star break

Iverson has been playing in Turkey ever since his hiatus from the NBA.

Allen Iverson coming back to the place he called home in 2012 would fit the bill.

The 2012 version of the Philadelphia 76ers are contenders in the East and nothing would be more beneficial to their formula than the veteran presence of Allen Iverson.

Recently it has been reported by various media outlets that “The Answer” has had financial troubles since his last stint in the NBA back in ’09-’10. The club would be making a great humanitarian gesture as well as a smart basketball decision to bring back Iverson.

Things have changed a lot since that 2009 season, with the hiring of Doug Collins who has instilled a winning attitude to the club.

Also, guys like Jrue, Iggy, Lou and Elton Brand have matured as players since then, not to mention the addition of guys like Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks, who have changed the atmosphere as well.

The stench of losing from two years ago has worn off as they broke .500 last season and made it to the playoffs. They are off to their hottest start in 10 years this season, going 20-10 so far in this 2012 campaign.

The disappointment of the 2011 Eagles and Phillies will linger until training camp starts for both teams. Both teams had high expectations and failed to deliver on both. As a Phillies fan, I know it creates hope whenever there’s a winner in the city.

The basketball team can provide the relief if they bring back their former hero and do the unthinkable.

Maybe it isn’t impossible to see AI regain some of his glory with the team he once made his name.

With the rise of Jeremy Lin, who really knows what will unfold this NBA season? But let’s hope for hoops fans everywhere, AI sees the light of day in the NBA again, whether it be with the Sixers or not.

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Allen Iverson: 7 Teams Who Should Target the Veteran

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Feb 152012

For any NBA team crazy enough to still inquire, Allen Iverson would seemingly only bring baggage-infested questions, not answers. No former first-tier NBA star in recent memory experienced a more abrupt, tumultuous and premature downfall than the once-beloved AI.

Detroit told him to go home for the final month of the 2008-09 season after Iverson refused to take a bench seat in favor of Rodney Stuckey.

Memphis terminated his contract after three games (yes, three games) in November 2009 after the “Answer” once again made a stink about coming off the bench.

His beloved Sixers even shelved their charitable effort to resuscitate Iverson’s career with two months to go in the 2009-10 season, in the wake of the 2001 MVP’s lingering injuries and a supposedly massive underground gambling debt.

Yet almost two years after his final NBA game to date, AI is still only 36 years old. In the wake of ongoing civil and domestic lawsuits, an 800K plus jewelry debt and a shattered reputation, Iverson is in dire need of one last NBA chance.

But would any team be crazy enough to give it to a man who, according to a March 2010 article by Stephen A. Smith in the Philadelphia Inquirer, “numerous NBA teams” believe will “either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away” ?

Contrary to popular belief, there are crazier ideas than bringing on Iverson for some stretch-drive energy.

He hasn’t played an NBA game in two years so his legs are undoubtedly fresh. Like Michael Vick when he first got out of jail, he also has no other options and would undoubtedly play his heart out to at least salvage the gracious opportunity.

Let’s not forget, Iverson is also one of the greatest scorers and ball-handlers in the history of the game. While those skills may be diminished, they don’t just go away. If AI is finally willing to accept a complementary role, and he’d have no other choice at this point, he could easily put his once-in-a-generation talents to constructive use.

Bill Walton did it with the Celtics towards the end of his career and won a long-awaited second championship in 1986. Alonzo Mourning did the same with Miami towards the end of his career and won a long-awaited first title in 2006.

With a clear head and his priorities (at least slightly) in order, Iverson is too talented not to contribute in similar, energy-spurt fashion. Here are seven teams who should take that chance.

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Allen Iverson: Ridiculous Ego Will Be Lasting Memory of AI

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Feb 132012

Rarely does one of the all-time greats go out in a blaze of glory, and Allen Iverson is just another example.

His decision to skip out on an opportunity to play for the Los Angeles Lakers because of his unwillingness to start out in their D-League affiliate is certainly not a shocking development (per ESPN). A.I. has an ego that is almost as big as his highlight reel.

Remember his last stint with the Memphis Grizzles? Probably not.

Everybody will always remember his epic 10-year run with the Philadelphia 76ers, in which he gobbled up four scoring titles as one of the premier players of the decade.

Yet once he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, he became a complete afterthought, as was his tenure with the Detroit Pistons, Grizzles and 76ers once again.

He signed with the Grizzles to begin the 2009-10 campaign only to leave the team. Why? Take one guess:

I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with.

He still was fast, but he wasn’t Iverson fast anymore. He lost that patented first step and crossover, turning into nothing but a small guy with a limited skill-set and mammoth sized ego.

When you are one of the stars of the league it’s okay to act like you own it. Yet when you have an undeserving sense of entitlement as rookies out play you, the routine gets old.

Awesome shoes, crossing over Jordan, cornrows, love/hate relationship with all of his coaches are all a few ways we will remember Iverson.

Yet now that it appears his last chance at the NBA has been rejected by the man himself, and the lasting memory will be Iverson’s inability to check his ego at the door to be a team player in the greater good of winning a championship.

It’s Iverson’s way or the highway, and in 2012 it’s the highway—to Puerto Rico.

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NBA Rumors: Why Allen Iverson Is Not the Answer for LA Lakers

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Feb 132012

The Los Angeles Lakers have enough problems right now to compound their woes with Allen Iverson, an over-the-hill shooting guard with no interest in passing the ball.

Has the team’s lack of guard play become so serious that one of its major targets is only receiving offers from Los Angeles and Puerto Rico?

No other team in the league has shown recent interest in Iverson, and the Lakers were reportedly going to start him off in the D-League after signing him.

These should be two large hints to management that this idea needs to be taken off the board. The D-League is for young, upcoming talents, and not for aging prima donnas hanging onto one last shot at stardom.

The Lakers have certainly shown this season that they need a quality point guard. Derek Fisher is 37 years old and cannot keep up with quicker players, while Steve Blake has missed time due to injury and Darius Morris is a rookie.

The team’s offense has been dismal, ranking 21st in the league by averaging just 92.7 points per game. The current players have struggled to move the ball and maintain fluidity.

The defense has been solid, but the lack of point guard play is evident in the Lakers’ inability to get steals. Los Angeles has given up just 90.9 points per game, which is good enough for 4th in the NBA. However, the team is averaging just 5.6 steals per game, the worst throughout the league.

Iverson would only make the offensive problems worse and would not be an upgrade on defense.

He shoots the ball too much and towards the end of his career, became progressively less interested in passing. At his best, Iverson averaged nearly eight assists. In his last season in the NBA in 2009-10, which featured short stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Memphis Grizzlies, A.I. recorded just four assists a night.

Iverson is everything that the Lakers should not be looking for in a backcourt partner for Kobe Bryant. Bryant has by far the highest usage rate in the league this season (35.0), which means that he uses more of his team’s possessions than any other player. Throw Iverson on the court with him and Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum would never touch the ball.

Bryant and Iverson are both volume shooters; they need a lot of shots to get in rhythm and get points. Bryant is averaging 24 attempts per game this year while Iverson averaged just under 15 shots per game in his last decently productive season with Detroit in 2008-09. Gasol and Bynum take 13.5 and 12.2 attempts per night respectively.

If Iverson were to join the Lakers, it would be impossible for him to take the necessary amount of shots to be productive without stealing touches from the big men. Iverson has also been extremely unreceptive to the idea of being a bench player.

The Lakers need an unselfish player at the point guard position who’s main focus is distributing the ball to the team’s stars. Iverson’s main focus would be to prove that he can still score like he used to, and to earn a quick buck to prevent bankruptcy.

Defensively, Iverson’s unparalleled quickness allowed him to get steals regularly when he was younger. As his first step started to gradually get slower, his ability to pick players’ pockets became less effective. In his best defensive season in 2001-02, AI snatched 2.8 steals every game. In his last season with Philadelphia and Memphis in 2009-10, he averaged just 0.7 takeaways per game.

In addition to shooting too much and playing poor defense, Iverson would also make the Lakers—who are already an old team—even older.

Los Angeles has the third oldest roster in the league and four of the team’s five starters are over 30 years old. Iverson is 36 and has not played an NBA game in almost two years. Adding an old and out-of-shape player would be the least savvy move that the Lakers’ management could make.

The team is desperate for help at the 1-spot, but there are several better options than Iverson, who is not even a true point guard. The Lakers have shown interest in Gilbert Arenas, and even brought him in for a private workout on Sunday. Arenas is also not an ideal fit for LA, but he is six years younger than Iverson and has already played in a sixth-man role without publicly complaining about it.

The Lakers have also inquired about Cleveland Cavaliers‘ point guard Ramon Sessions, who would be a better option than Arenas or Iverson. Sessions is not a spectacular player, but is solid and reliable and does not have the ego that the Lakers’ other targets have. He will not have a problem with deferring to Bryant, Bynum and Gasol.

The ideal option for L.A. would be a deal that would move either Bynum or Gasol and bring in either Deron Williams or Rajon Rondo. Williams is unlikely to re-sign with New Jersey if the team is unable to trade for another star, and Boston has reportedly been looking to trade Rondo and start a rebuilding process.

When weighing all the Lakers’ options to improve the point guard position, Iverson is the least attractive prospect. Arenas causes the same concerns over poor shot selection and sub-par defense, but he is six years younger than AI. Sessions is not as talented as Arenas or Iverson, but would unquestionably accept his role with the team. Lastly, Williams and Rondo are both All-Star caliber players and would be better options, even if the Lakers have to move Bynum or Gasol to get him.

“The Answer” does not solve any of the problems the Lakers currently face, and other players are available to fill L.A.’s needs at point guard.

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Lakers Rumors: Allen Iverson Would Give Lakers a Boost

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Feb 132012

Allen Iverson would be a nice addition for the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a team that has serious holes and needs a boost.

They need to make additions, and at this point in the season there aren’t many options. They can either make a trade or add a free agent.

It is the latter option the Lakers need to focus on and the addition of Iverson would be a nice first step. It is also a step they have reportedly contemplated.

The Rumors

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported hearing the Lakers were interested in Iverson:

Allen Iverson, who sources indicated the Lakers had some interest in as long as he was willing to go to the NBA Developmental League for a few weeks first, is not the answer. He’s simply not a point guard.

Smith is quick to dismiss this acquisition, but he is not looking at the big picture.

Why Iverson Would Help the Lakers

Smith is absolutely right by saying that the Iverson would not fill the Lakers’ massive gap at point guard, but that isn’t their only need.

LA needs scoring help off the bench. Their second unit has a nasty habit of turning five-point leads into five-point deficits.

They don’t have scoring punch, and they don’t have anyone to control the flow of the game.

And if Iverson can still do anything on a basketball court, he can still do those two things. The Lakers wouldn’t have to worry about Iverson being a disruptive force to the flow of their offense because their second team has no flow.

AI would not be the Lakers’ savior. He alone would not lead them to the promise land, but he is a needed piece all the same.

On nights he had his touch working, he can turn the Lakers bench into a legitimate squad, and that is something the Lakers desperately need.

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Allen Iverson: Former NBA Superstar Slapped with Big Bill for Unpaid Bling

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Jan 302012

Allen Iverson, the former NBA superstar known to basketball fans as “The Answer,” failed to live up to his nickname and is apparently about to pay a hefty price for it.

According to TMZ, a judge in Georgia has seized control of AI’s bank accounts and will be garnishing his earnings so as to repay a debt he currently owes to a jeweler in the state.

What “earnings” the judge expects to garnish from remains to be seen. The former superstar guard for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets hasn’t set foot in an NBA game in nearly two years.

Iverson was sued by Aydin & Company Jewelers in 2010 after allegedly failing to pay up on a $375,000 bill for what would appear to be some rather expensive bling. The one-time superstar guard for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets failed to respond to the lawsuit, at which point the courts issued a default judgment of $859,896.46 in favor of A&C to cover the jewelry, interest and court and attorney fees.

Perhaps hoping to defy the law like he did his critics throughout his playing career, AI continued to ignore the bills with which he was being served. That left the judge in A&C’s case no choice but to grant the jewelers direct access to Iverson’s personal Wells Fargo accounts.

There’s no word yet as to whether A&C has recouped its cash yet, though one thing remains clear.

Of the 3,262 turnovers that Iverson piled up over the course of his 14-year NBA career, this latest one is easily the costliest.

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