Uncertainties still surround The Answer.
by Adam Fleischer
Just a few summers back, this would have been unthinkable.
Allen Iverson, out of work and lacking any passionate suitors.
About a year ago, Iverson finished the ’07-08 season leading the Nuggets in scoring, assists, steals, and minutes per game while starting all 82 and helping Denver to a 50-32 record. During the Western Conference’s most competitive season in recent memory, he teamed with Melo to will the Nuggets to the playoffs. Yes, they were the 8-seed and abruptly swept by the Lakers, but it was a five-win improvement from the previous year (when they earned a 6-seed), and AI was out there on the court every night.
We knew he would be, though. Iverson’s inclination to suit up on a nightly basis—regardless of how beat up he is—has been well documented throughout his career. That’s why he doesn’t deserve this. And I don’t mean he doesn’t deserve this from a respect standpoint. I mean it from a basketball one.
It’s difficult to reconcile that title-contending and up and coming organizations alike don’t feel that Iverson would be an asset to their team next season. Or, if there are those that feel he could, they’re certainly slow and reluctant to show it. Media and fans have been quick to point to the many issues and perceived shortcomings that surrounded Iverson last year as some sort of indication that he’s done. Sure, players often fall off once they climb into their thirties, but not this fast when they’ve been this good.
But maybe the lack of off-season interest shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Answer has always been somewhat of a polarizing figure to all those ranging from teammates and coaches to the public and the league. That’s not to say he wasn’t loved by those four entities, too. It’s simply to state that AI has been toeing the line between an exalted and castigated superstar for his entire career. 
Iverson was a controversial figure from the moment he came on the national scene (outside of basketball circles) in 1993 as a talented young black athlete in trouble with the law and in the center of a legal battle with a racial backdrop. After a racially based brawl erupted at a local Virginia bowling alley, AI and three other black youths were arrested—the only ones detained, and a mere fraction of the many aggressors involved—and he and two others were sentenced to a ridiculous 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended. A 17-year-old Allen ended up only serving a few months at a minimum-security work camp, and the decision was later overturned, but such a racially charged entrance into the national spotlight was a precursor to the type of fiery discourse that Iverson as a figure and player has sparked over the last decade plus.
At the time, I was too young to understand the issues surrounding the incident or to even be cognizant of its existence (what do you expect from a first grader?). But only a few years later, AI catapulted himself onto my radar and instantly became my favorite player. From what I remember, our relationship began with a Georgetown hat that I took from a friend’s house which in turn made me like the Hoyas. Once I had the hat, I watched the team’s superstar in awe. The way he played and his on-court style grabbed me. His fervor, focus on defense, tendency to weave his way towards the hole, and passing ability were only a few of the things that had me hooked.
Instantly, I wanted to be like him on the court. And I wasn’t the only one. There’s no one player, besides Kobe and MJ, who people my age grew up trying to model their games after more than AI. I loved his crossover, and I loved when he hit MJ with it. I loved his spats with Larry Brown, and I loved when they made up. I loved when he rocked size 11.5 Questions, and I loved when the later generation of the sneaker tiptoed over Tyronn Lue. Despite sporadic off-court troubles and criticisms from all sides, I felt like he could do no wrong. 
People born some years earlier than I was didn’t always have the kindest thoughts about the young superstar, though. Scratch that. Opposite of my standpoint, when they thought of doing wrong, they thought of him. He didn’t pass enough. His baggy jeans, the ink on his arms, and the braids in his hair had no place in the game. He didn’t respect the older generation. He couldn’t be the face of the league—at least, not with the image that it looked to project.
That image is one of family-friendly athletes who could be readily marketed as the higher ups pleased. When you come in the league, you’re part of a multi-billion dollar corporation that has an image and a product to uphold, and if you don’t fit the mold, then they’ll airbrush your picture and change the rules so you can’t wear what you want.
But Iverson was, and is, in many ways, representative not of something that the league should be moving away from, but of something that it is sorely missing these days: honesty. From Iverson, you always get it straight. When he was at the podium for his now infamous “We talkin’ about practice!?” press conference, he was letting us in to how he felt. Maybe he was wrong, and maybe you didn’t agree with his sentiments, but at least he was sharing his true feelings. Isn’t that what we’re looking for from athletes when we ask them questions? Not for some easy to consume crap, but for the real thing? He wasn’t worried about always giving the politically correct answer. And when he did give it, it wasn’t for the sake of political correctness—it was because he believed what he was saying. You could just tell.
That’s something that hasn’t changed during his career. From his Rookie of the Year acceptance to a tearful press conference earlier this summer and everything in between, he gives you the real. His on-court game during that span has changed, but you gotta believe he’s still got it. He could still put up 20 per on playoff squad, but none seem to want to give him a shot. Or, possibly, it’s that he won’t give them one, stuck on looking for the sort of The Man role that, while marking his career, he’s now grown out of. But he’s not ready to stop playing, despite what he suggested some months ago. Not someone whose give and take with the game has been this meaningful.
There’s a chance I’m rejecting the current reality for the one of my youth, but I don’t think that’s the case. Much of what I’ve read, heard, and seen over the last few months regarding Iverson leaves me puzzled. It’s almost as if people have been waiting for his descent so they could use it as proof that he was never really as great as he was billed to be; so they could claim that his teams never made it over the hump not because of inferior talent around him, but because of him.
He claims that all he has ever wanted is to win. To me, it shows. It’s what he strives for—more than scoring titles, accolades, or endorsements. Has he always gone about that goal of winning in the right way? In hindsight, maybe not. Maybe he should have been quicker to meet his teammates and coaches halfway in disputes. Maybe he should have taken less shots after all. Maybe he should have done a lot of things. But it would be wrong of us to only think about him that way after what he’s given us.
Bring him onto a championship contender and he’ll help show that you need to “play every game like it’s your last,” like he has professed so many times. Bring him on a young squad and he’ll show the kids that it’s better to be yourself than something that the media, management, and the public want you to be. He’ll show Brandon Jennings that it’s more than alright to speak your mind. As one of the few with the platform to do so, you should take advantage.
He has brought a level of authenticity to the court and the mic (no, I’m not talking about “40 Bars”) that we would be remiss to quickly forget thanks to one sub-par season. Yet, here we are, two weeks into August and with just about every capable free agent off the market, but AI is still looking for a team. We may feel far removed now, but there was a decade when Iverson was one of, if not the, most exciting, fascinating, and entertaining player in the game. He’s no longer the MVP he was early in the decade, but he’s no schmuck either. 
So anyone hoping to diminish where Iverson’s been and what he’s done for the game in light of the where he and it seem to now be going, just remember: each time he hit the deck, he got right back up. As fans, we’ve all been better for it. And, as whichever team eventually extends their hand to pick him up will soon realize, don’t expect that to stop.
LATEST NEWS & RUMORS
View all »
- Video: Duke’s Austin Rivers Drains Buzzer-Beater to Beat UNC
- Video: Jeremy Lin Crosses Up John Wall, Throws it Down
- City of Houston to Host 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend
- Meadowlark Lemon to Make Appearance at Fairfield University
- Griffin, Irving, Rubio Highlight Rookie-Sophomore Game Rosters
- Larry Bird: Kobe Better Teammate for Winning, LeBron More Fun to Play With
- Draftstreet’s Free $250 Fantasy Basketball Challenge is Back
- Kobe on Shaq: ‘No Way We Would Have Lasted 15 Years’
- Study Shows UNC Alumni Have Earned the Most Money in the NBA
- View All »
I’ve mentioned the impact that Iverson has had on the game many times before, but cats don’t want to hear it. They really don’t.
Danny
if you take 17 shots and shoot 50 percent, how many points do you score a game?
I really, really there was a requirement that people think before they speak, but there is not.
Freaking idiots.
My bad, 14 shots.
Half of 14 is 7. If you make seven shots a game, you score 14 points a game.
So, taking 14 shots to get 17 points is not ridiculous, it’s damn near normal. Actually do the math before you open your mouth.
Also, are those Spider-man sleeves AI is wearing in the third pic?
When the guy known for his refusal to give up suddenly gives up in a system he doesn’t like, that says something immense about that player.
That being said, I have no idea why fringe contender teams (Utah, San Antonio, Phoenix, New Orleans, Phili, Chicago) don’t take a chance on Iverson.
He’s not worth much money.
Pay him three million, if he doesn’t do what you want him to do, send him on an early vacation. It’s that simple. It’s a low monetary, high reward risk.
AI has been the focal point of the offence pretty much his entire life, being the guy with the ball in his hands every play. The 76ers constructed every team he played on around him, carrying the ball almost from day one. Nobody lambasts a career roleplayer when they’re expected to step up to be lead scorer at 33 and can’t, do they?
Detroit should resign him, then consider a trade: AI and Chris Wilcox for Jason Richardson and Robin Lopez, (to phoenix). Or something similar, we’ll take Jason Maxiell even?!
THE LEAGUE IS FULL OF LIARS,PHONIES,& FAKES(EXCLUDING ARTEST & STEPHEN JACKSON) A.I. IS THE REALEST THAT HAS EVER DONE IT & NEVER SOLD OUT. IF YOU CANT ADMIRE & RESPECT THAT, WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR THEN??
___
I stand for pregnant women on trains and buses.
For some reason, similar things can often be said about the realest, toughest, most honest basketball players.
What about Guys like Russell that made it possible for young black men to be superstars/coaches/icons in the leaug?, And get paid rediculouse$$$ while doing it? These guys carried the burden, had to avoid controversy and scandle and suffered hatred and predjudice no matter what they did. But they walked the line and wrote history.Thats Real. Now tell me Is Ron Artest or, Stephen Jackson more ‘real’ than Russell, or the BIG O? Dr J or Magic?
Keep it real.
That and bad spelling.
I remember the days i asked my mom to buy me a gray or black (cheap) bball shorts and shirts that were too baggy.
Living in Europe some kids just didn’t get it.
My crossover was too flashy, my shorts hung too low, my dome was too fresh.
But still after all those years I’ll ask my girl to go to the store ‘n cop me the same ish!
That’s how real this dude made me fall in love with the game!
And that’s why he’s my answer on the biggest question i had then: crime or ball?
And whenever i see AI cross a new fool up i remember…
I remember the days i asked my mom to buy me a gray or black (cheap) bball shorts and shirts that were too baggy.
Living in Europe some kids just didn’t get it.
My crossover was too flashy, my shorts hung too low, my dome was too fresh.
But still after all those years I’ll ask my girl to go to the store ‘n cop me the same ish!
That’s how real this dude made me fall in love with the game!” -> Perfect example. Dude, you dont love the game – you love the style… Guess what: Those stylers never can play!
1) shooting percentages… look at who ai played with throughout his career..not necessarily just that he didnt get to play with legit second options.. but he played terrible shooters.which equates to awful spacing… even so… u look at kobe’s shooting numbers his first couple years without shaq.. as a true number one option.. or t macs.. or gilbert arenas’s and they are eerily similar..
2) defense.. ai is an awful defender these days no denying that.. but dont tell me during the larry brown era that he didn’t play d…
3) lastly.. as hard as it is to play with ai.. a lot of players just dont mesh perfectly.. shaq and amare werent a great fit.. kobe and caron… id even argue kobe and lamar.. ron and tmac.. vince and rj..can ai as a perimeter player just have a great big… to dump it down to every once in awhile…
Iverson has never faked an injury. Ever. He has no history of using fake injuries to hold team’s hostage.
Yet, a writer in Detroit speculates that Iverson must be faking because none of the team doctors can find anything wrong with his back. He doesn’t have any proof that Iverson is faking, he just has a gut feeling and anonymous sources.
That is enough to convince intelligent people (Looking at you Myles) that Iverson is faking his injury so he won’t have to come off the bench. This despite the fact that when asked by a reporter, Iverson says he will come off the bench. He doesn’t seem enthusiastic, but he still says this.
So, despite Iverson’s history, despite the fact that back problems are notoriously difficult for doctors to diagnose through MRI or Xrays, and despite what Iverson has already said, we have intelligent people assuming that he is a malingering liar. And that he’s unwilling to be the second option on a team, despite the fact that he’s said numerous times that he doesn’t mind being the second option he just doesn’t want to ride anybody’s coattails to a championship.
What it appears to me is that people have already made up their minds about who Iverson really is, and they filter information through their own prejudices. They already know what Iverson stands for, so it’s easy for them to convince themselves of the worst.
That’s a damn shame because many of these same folks would have a problem if that criteria was used to examine their favorite players.
End of rant.
His name is McKie. and he also averaged 12 or 13 points per game during that season. In fact, nobody on that sixers team averaged more than 15 points per game that year.
And besides his 30+ points, Iverson also got 4.5 assists and roughly 4 rebounds, along with he steals mentioned earlier.
Just so y’all know.
I think the idea that Iverson didn’t change his game in Detroit is a myth. I think if you watch game film of how he played, he did try to change his game, particularly early on. He got criticized for not performing up to standards, and he then he fell back on his old line of “I just gotta do me.”
I can’t argue that Iverson isn’t stubborn. It’s obvious he’s stubborn with a whole bunch of other assorted character flaws.
My problem with what you’re saying is that you know that back injuries are hard to diagnose. You may not know this, but throughout the season Iverson battled some sort of left knee ailment that was a holdover from Denver. So, if he had a knee injury, I can see how overcompensating for that could affect his back. And that’s not even accounting for all the minutes and games he’s played.
Nobody in that Detroit backcout wanted to come of the bench. Rip, Stuckey and Iverson all complained or sulked about it. I can see saying that Iverson had a bad attitude, but then making the leap of faith that he was faking an injury, one of the most serious accusations you can lob at an athlete, seems unfair given his past history.
When he was in Philly and he was forced to come off the bench after an injury he sulked, but he didn’t pretend that his injury was worse to force the team to change their minds. He has NO history of faking injuries. When people are willing to assume the worst about someone with no concrete evidence, I find that troubling.
I think you would feel the same way if the name of the player we are discussing began in a “K” and ended in an “E.”
I don’t care if folks blast him for sulking, or not playing defense, or shooting a lot. Those are legitimate complaints. But, these other stuff is not legitimate in my eyes.
Here’s where coach Curry comes in. During this exact period of absence, mastermind Curry decided to start all three guards: IVerson, Stuckey, and Hamilton. A THREE GUARD BACKCOURT, when their ONLY POST PRESENCE was gone! No wonder their defense sucked. No wonder the Pistons were losing.
Add to the fact that they made Iverson, THEIR BEST PLAYER adjust to an old system that clearly was NOT working, well, you should get the picture.
Iverson is my most favorite player currently in the league. I have followed him closely since his Goergetown days. I always try my best to give him the benefit of the doubt. But if I had to put money on it I would surely say he could have finished out the season playing if he really wanted to. Iverson never said it was his back alone that kept him out. He said it was his back along with spuradic (coming off the bench) playing time. The proof is in the pudding.
It sounds like a man resigned to his faith and ready to make a better decision in the future. Those comments came after sitting in the Detroit locker room and realizing that he was being blamed for the team’s failure and that all of the other players appeared to dislike him a lot. At least that’s what it seemed like to me. Those comments came after Curry decided that despite the fact that Iverson has NEVER been a traditional point, he was going to ask him to play like one in order to replace Billups. This was after Curry decided that forcing the Pistons to play slow down basketball was the best way to utilize their current talent level. This was after Iverson realized that Detroit was not a great situation.
Iverson came back from injury. People complained that he was faking, he said he was not, but he came back and played. He then complained about only getting 17 MINUTES in a game, and Joe Dumars told him to shut it down for the rest of the season.
Seems like folks forget this part of the story.
My take:
I think Iverson was hurting. I think he wondered if it was worth it to suck up the pain and play when the team and fans were turning against him. I think he felt betrayed in a way by Dumars and he was wondering if he should just rest and try to get ready for free agency. I think ultimately he go tired of peopple saying he was “faking” and decided to suit up. He was still pissed and it boiled over.
Myles, I think it’s ludricrous to challenge the credibility of the doctors at Georgetown, but accept the impartiality of the Detroit team doctors. As a journalist, you know there have been countless instances where team doctors have done a poor job of diagnosing injuries and you know their loyalities are not to the individuals players. I will reference Grant Hill’s comments about the team doctors in Orlando and their failure to provide him with adequate care. I will also reference the actions of the team doctors in Portland who deemed Darius Miles unable to play basketball, only to see him suit up for Memphis later that year and play fairly well. So, I don’t think it’s strange that Iverson went to doctors he trusted, although I’ll admit it looks somewhat fishy.
You missed the point. Point to a comment where I said I knew definitively that Iverson WAS NOT faking.
I never said that. I said given his past history, I don’t understand why everybody has taken the fact that he was faking as gospel despite the fact that there is no PROOF that this is true. You have one news report based on hunches and anonymous sources, and you have Reggie Miller’s opinion.
It’s amazing what people are wiling accept as proof when it validates their opinions. And I’m not saying I am never guilty of this, but I think I have less of a problem than others.
I’m not rehashing or debating who is to blame or who was blamed in Detroit last year.
It looked fishy the same way it looks fishy every time Kobe compliments or hugs a teammate.
Because I see the world through two prisms, the one I actually have, and the one I assume others have.
So, I figured that if folks were already thinking Iverson was faking, which they were, then him going to a G-Town doctor to get a diagnosis wouldn’t change their minds. It would seem fake.
Conversely, if you’re like me and you think team doctors can’t be trusted, him going to his own doctor made perfect sense.
__
I’ve read the back and forth here between Allenp and Myles Brown and all I can think is this….here is a gritty-stubborn player who wont rest through injuries because he NEEDS to be on the floor, won’t go to practice because he’ll wear himself out before the actual game, won’t come off the bench because he NEEDS to be on the floor, can have a polarising effect on team mates because he NEEDS to be on the floor and he gets to a new team, probably entirely against his own personal preferences and he’s ushered to the bench, almost akin to being the “new kid at school”, and because of who he is and what he needs…which if your recalling his entire career to mind, the general theme is because HE NEEDS TO BE ON THE FLOOR!! and he realises it’s not forth coming then he’s decided to play the waiting game.
The shame of it, is that this is the ONE player that I can recall in my following of the NBA since 1993 that’s being held accountable for holding out and packing up shop for the remainder of the season. And how has this come to be such? Well, as the original article highlighted…AI’s honesty got him to this place. Most disgruntled players will hold out or get into cruise mode towards the end of the season when things aren’t going their way – but they surely don’t SAY thats why they’re doing it….
I’m sure the Detroit doctors were trying to sabotage AI.
Is Iverson keeping it real while David Robinson is a wussy tool?
Does Jason Williams keep it real, or does Steve Nash?
Does Asher Roth keep it real, or would you prefer Em’s realness?
People made fun of his straight-edge, polite, patriotic attitude, calling him a poser, a tool, and a lot of slave jokes that I don’t even want to repeat. Truth was, dude was actually like that, and he didn’t bow under pressure to anyone. Same way Iverson has always been him, no matter how the media wanted to change his image.
The cornrows for me were the most important part of how real Iverson was: he didn’t cut them off for anyone except for himself. When no one cared about his cornrows anymore, he thought to himself “I’m getting old, it’s time for a change.” THAT’S freaking real. It’s making your own damn decision.
The point is that team doctors aren’t the most reliable. Ask Grant Hill or Darius Miles. I like how you ignored those two examples and jumped right on to Larry Bird.
It hurt his stock.
And it’s ironic, in a way, because if he finds a position where he LIKES to be playing, he’ll fight through missing limbs. People dont’ want to chance whether he’ll “like” things or not.
And I’m glad we can shake hands and agree with that point of view.
Tavoris: that is what’s up. I’m not even sure if Boo Williams still holds those tournaments in the area anymore?
Iverson played with the back injury. He came back. As Tad said, the injury happened before hte benching.
People are assuming he was faking or wasn’t hurt that bad because that’s what y’all want to believe. There is no “evidence” that he was faking. It’s cool if you believe that.
Personally, I think he said initially that he wasn’t killing himself for a team that he felt wasn’t looking out for him. I don’t have a problem with that.
Iverson didn’t shut himself down for the rest of season. Joe Dumars did that. Iverson complained about playing 17 minutes, and Dumars asked him not to come back to anymore games.
If you can’t get simple facts correct in your arguments,(I didn’t forget your 14 shots debacle) maybe you should try commenting somewhere where people don’t actually use their brains.
C’mon now… Iverson shut himself down… if Iverson was like “sure coach, I’ll come off the bench for 20-30 minutes a game” you think Dumars would shut him down?
So, your position is that Joe Dumars had no choice?
Allenp-in Jukai’s defense (I don’t do this often) I brought up Larry Bird. However, it doesn’t take away from the situation. Allen Iverson had no leverage to shut himself down in Detroit. He has no fan base there, no lengthy contract to bind their flexibility. Detroit, on the other hand, held all the cards. It’s obvious they had a meeting and (Detroit) said “This isn’t working. Go home.”
Teddy, Jason Williams is from West Virginia-what did you expect?
I know you introduced Larry Bird, but Jukai had already made his comment casting aspersions on anyone claiming that Detroit’s team doctors were not above reproach. He did that in his typical backhanded way when he praised Myles.
Your Bird comment just allowed him to further that argument, which ignores the checkered history of team doctors in every major sport.
“In West Virginia born and raised,
On the playground, where Whit-E spent most of my days,
Chillin’ out maxin’ tryin’ to act all black, while all shoutin’ slurs at Asians outside of the school,
When a couple of guys who were up to no good,
Started makin’ trouble in my neighborhood,
I got in one little fight and my friends got scared as sh!t,
And said you’re movin’ with your auntie to Memphis.”
“meh”.
Bein a black man in a most def white country, my remark wasn’t about the style!
It was about how Ive made me fall in love with the game.
Now if you call people who were baggy shorts ‘stylers’ i would be happy to invite you over to Belgium or better yet i’ma take the trip to your spot and hoop it up.
Then we’ll see if Iverson just gave me fashion tips to run with, mmmmmmmmmkay?
Iverson’s refusal to change his game? He’s changed his game PLENTY. AND he was a freaking shooting guard! I don’t get where this myth of Allen Iverson never helping his teammates become better comes from. Nothing personal, but maybe you should look up the stats before making those kinds of assumptions?
Eric Snow DOUBLED every single one of his stats upon joining the 76ers. A similar outcome for Aaron McKie. So don’t tell me Allen Iverson never made his teammates better, that’s complete bull.
Anyways, why do people always assume Iverson didn’t pass the ball? A shooting guard is SUPPOSED TO SHOOT. That being said, Iverson has STILL averaged point-guard-like numbers in terms of career assists. Allen Iverson has more career assists per game than CHAUNCEY BILLUPS!
And what’s with this notion that shooting guards are supposed to rake in a tonne of assists? They’re SHOOTING GUARDS. Nobody told Vince Carter to pass more, nobody told Ray Allen to pass more, nobody told Allen Houston or Reggie Miller to pass more. So what’s with this whole “Iverson should pass more” crap?
Jukai can post his because I know he has before, then I get all your e-mails from that?
Also, I gotta ask you something TAD.
Thanks.
Comments