Saturday, October 30th, 2010 at 11:46 am  |  77 responses

Allen Iverson Signs with Besiktas Cola Turka

by Ryne Nelson

The deal is official. Allen Iverson has signed a $4 million, two-year contract with Turkish club Besiktas.

A press conference was held Friday at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan. AI kept it real, wearing a black tee and Yankees cap.

Iverson told the press “my whole thing was being wanted,” and the Turkish club offers a chance at a “fresh start” in basketball. Iverson continued:

“I had a great time playing in the NBA. Who knows if I ever will again? But I wanted to show everybody I can play at a high level, not just the NBA.”

According to terms of the deal, Iverson will receive bonuses and a percentage of advertising revenues. The former NBA scoring champ also stipulated that the team can’t fine him beyond 1 percent of his salary.

Check the videos below to watch the signing, followed by the unveiling of his new No. 3 Besiktas Cola Turka jersey.

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  • Kobe

    How the mighty have fallen …

  • Mike

    First! n_n

  • Kobe

    Kobe forever. First

  • nastierthanu4

    people in turkey are gonna be gettin crossed up. This is great now kids in turkey can play selfish ball as well.

  • float_world

    Good luck AI. No matter what happens in the future you will be a first ballot hall of fame’r.

  • wilz

    too bad ur not proving ish by schoolin turkish boys.

  • http://www.slamonline.com wayno

    hopefully he doesn’t quit on them after 2 games…

  • The Philosopher

    Clown.

  • theunsunghero

    I’m glad A.I. finally got signed. Folks can hate, but it’s all good. A.I gave the league some very good years. I don’t even think the haters can deny that. The league is shifting towards only accepting 6’3″ pgs (minimum height) who are 19-20 years old now (coming into the league). Iverson has never been the prototype role model by any means, but regardless of his image or shortcomings, A.I. is probably the most intimidating player under 6ft in league history in my opinion and many others.

  • http://www.dimemag.com Royal

    I wish the best for Allen….Keep Ya head up dude

  • IHaveADream

    Regardless of what anyone says, he’s the greatest little man to ever play and it sucks that his reputation has him at this point where no team wants to take a chance on him. Everybody knows the real though, a lot of cats in the league, these scoring point guards, even if they won’t admit it, they looked up to AI. D-Wade, Chris Paul, and Brandon Jennings wear his number. Guys still wearing shooting sleeves, AI made that a trend. All of these guys with tattoos, AI made that acceptable. So his legacy is set regardless of what happens in Turkey. First ballot Hall of Famer without a doubt.

  • chazz michael michaels

    honestly, a.i. is my dude but im starting to get tired of hearing “im going to give this orginization everything i got” or however you want to put it…

  • Darius

    He’ll b back in the league winnin rings shutin u idiots up

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    Iverson is on a mission from god.

  • JamFan

    The way Baron Davis is playing, I’m surprised the Clippers didn’t give AI a chance. They have nothing to lose at this point, except games.

  • dannyb

    Love how the blond chick at 1:34 pushed the other girl out of the way to get her pic with AI. Outtadaway biatch!

  • Hammer

    Like I have said b4,this was the L blackballing him. AI just wanted 2 b wanted. He and his agent contacted teams 2 let them know that he was willing 2 help out n any way. And no team wanted any part of him. Yes I know that some teams didn’t want him due 2 character issues,but DAM? ALL TEAMS? Don’t b so naïve people. Somebody couldve used AI,even if it was just purely 4 ticket sales. I luv the L,but iam disgusted w/how they handled the AI situation. He doesn’t belong n turkey,he belongs n the L. He still can play. Its a f****n shame that he’s gone

  • http://dsjfklf.com Jukai

    roflmao@the league blackballing AI. AI blackballed himself.

  • http://www.slamonline.com NickthaQuick

    Who else misses Greek dude and his ramblings about “Ana” and Steph?

  • Stillballin

    I’ll be watching you in you tube AI, crossing over Turkish guys.. Good luck ai, hopefully you’ll be playing in the L again in the future…

  • aidee333

    good job ai for get the nba i cant wait to see u play again;]

  • bashmo

    I cant believe the people ripping on AI. This guy is really one of the top scorers in the history of the league. Look at everything he accomplished as a 6 footer, won an MVP in the league and took a decent at BEST team to the finals in 01….come on this is a fresh start for the former scorer champ, and we should be happy for him because his career as a ball player is coming to end sooner than we think. And when he does youll all be crying..

  • http://dsjfklf.com Jukai

    bashmo: Skillwise, Allen Iverson is top of the crop. Given the proper talent, Allen could have won a chip. And the dude wasn’t even known for his work ethic, good christ, dude was so skilled and talented.
    And I still think Allen could be a starter in this league.
    but to think anyone but Allen Iverson drove Allen Iverson out of the league, well, that seems downright unrealistic.

  • Chris

    Slam, you have a typo in the article. You put ’2 year deal’, when it is surely ’2 game’.

    Sorry to be condescending and correct your grammar.

  • Sparty’s Law

    You’re 35 years old, put on a suit.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    This is good and all that hes playing. But I still don’t like how the league let one of the biggest stars in the history of the game go,

  • IHaveADream

    @ Chris
    Good try with being clever…didn’t work.

  • Rich

    Genuinely sad to see AI forced to play abroad, and even sadder when I consider that this is largely a self-inflicted fate.

    @Sparty’s Law – have you seen AI’s idea of a suit? He’s actually better off in his circa-2001 baggy tees and billowing jeans than a suit that looks like one of Biggie Smalls’ cast-offs.

  • http://www.twitter.com/JoshElam JE

    If Reebok has any sense, they’ll have that jersey for sale by next week. It’s actually pretty cool.

  • http://slamonline BossTerry

    Jive Turkey..

  • Hammer

    @nickthaquick. Yeah. Where is greek dude? I am n need of a lil amusement. Hahaha

  • don

    AI will always be a god to me. Keep it up AI. I’ll be a loyal fan. F the haters.

  • http://slamonline.com YKnot

    I will be Greek dude. AI can’t hold a candle to Rubio, Sergio or Shaqovich. He will get crossed up by Turkolu’s nephew in the first game and come back to lead the league in scoring as Durants sidekick!

  • Hammer

    @ynot. Just substitute AI with Anna,chop up the english language and u got it. Hahaha

  • iLL wiLL

    This is just weird.

  • http://www.nobrain.dk omer urundul

    beşiktaşın çocuğu allen iverson.

  • Rich

    Coming off the bench for the Grizz probably doesn’t seem like such a bad option now.

  • Ugh

    I’d take playing in Istanbul over playing in Memphis any day. It’s a beautiful, historic and multicultural city where the fans *really* get into the games. All the best to AI and his new team.

  • http://dsjfklf.com Jukai

    ^^^
    Probably true.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Bobcats should have gotten AI, especially if they got Captain JackUp on their squad. Bobcats will miss the playoffs again, and could have used AI, but hey I feel bad for AI, He was pumped up as the Hip Hop Bball player then he got grown man to wear girly braids, even got Haslem still wearing them, but now they casted him off, without AI truly getting an opportunity again being healthy to show what he can do. He will average 21 pts 3 assits and 2 rebs a game and get the MVP. BOOK IT!!

  • Someloser

    Best combo guard in the history of the game. No one ever played both the 1 and the 2 as well as him.

    Wherever he is, he’s a HOF. AI brought beauty to this game in the wake of MJ’s retirement and he was true to himself throughout. The Hood was in that Finals with him.

    Keep strong, Mr. Answer.

  • http://www.nobrain.dk omer urundul

    beşiktaş sikmiş beyler. dağılıyoruz

  • the Dude

    AI is the most influential player in the game next to MJ. Yes I said is.

    LeBron is combining styles (Magic and MJ), Kobe straight ripped an entire persona (duh?), but AI brought rows and ink to a league that changed a dress code to de-hip-hop the L.

    AI changed the game. The only unfortunate side-effect is how palming the ball has filtered down to up and comers. Everything else is legendary.

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Well i for one don’t miss Spanny’s crooning for Kournikova one bit. Very interested in seeing how Iverson deals with fans hurling objects at him from the stands during games though. Must-see Tv.

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    WHERE IS ANNA????!?!?! WHERE IS ANNA?!?!?!?! IN CHICKEN, ANNA IS IN CHICKEN!!!!!!! WHERES YOUR MVP ANNA??!?!?!?!

  • http://www.buttonmasher.co.nz TimProvise

    anyone noticed he doesnt say the team name? just “the organisation”. he isnt here for the long haul, this is just another pay check for A.I, There are teams in the NBA that could of used his scoring, they wouldnt be chmapionship teams but if Jerry Stackhouse can get a spot on the Heat then AI could of. he was definatly blacklisted by the NBA

  • http://twitter.com/nbatalkandkicks Eduardo

    AI is worth more than this. Even though he might have the best reputation amongst the owners, he’ll go down as one of the most influential players in NBA history. Best player under 6ft.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    How does my Besiktas Cola taste??

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Hopefully A.I. gets back in the league though, I still feel GOD is just putting him through this to strengthen him and when he gets back to the top(winning an NBA title) it will be much better then when KG won it.

  • Waskito

    Why the hate. Let’s be positive, Ai like me n you want to play till we die, especially with the huge crowd, regardless wether it is at the barn, small college in Timbuktu or nba. And this besiktas club have a huge fans base and a long history. He will be loved dearly there… And maybe he can crossed over all the opponent there….

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