Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am  |  284 responses

Allen Iverson to Memphis!

by Ryne Nelson

Wow. Can I just leave it at that? Allen Iverson, the face of NBA for nearly a decade, maybe even the face of basketball as a sport, is now saying he’s ready to sign with Memphis. And we’re not talking about the college program. There’s an actual NBA team there, or so Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace continues to tell us.

The word comes from Iverson’s Twitter account, which broke the news about 33 minutes ago. Ivey started the initial shockwave with this:

God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace and my next head coach Lionel Hollins.

And there’s this tweet:

I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.

Iverson has been talking about donning a Memphis jersey next season for a while. He said that he was close to signing with the Grizz over two weeks ago, and many reports have since confirmed the mutual interest. Given all that history, there’s no reason to distrust the tweets on this occasion.

How Iverson will fit in the mix with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay is anyone’s guess. We just know we’ll be watching a lot more Memphis games to find out!

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  • http://www.infamousklav.blogspot.com Klav

    Seriously though, you would think that he would go to an organization where he would get to play the way he wanted and that would benefit from his presence. But really it comes down to the money? That’s just stupid, and that’s what really bugs me. A milli and some change? I got mad respect for him because he’s the one who cemented basketball as an important part of my life, and to see that he would rather have more money instead of putting himself in a better situation clearly shows me he has too much pride. Too much pride to be a true winner. I’m very disappointed. Greenback stacks is the root of all evil.

  • http://myspace.com/showbread Bryan

    I mean I guess it could work he did play with melo and jack it up jr in denver, the real problem is zbo. His fat ass needs to go.

  • http://Slamonline Eboy

    :(

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Klav and me are on the same page. Co-sign

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Klav and me are on the same page. Co-sign

  • http://www.infamousklav.blogspot.com Klav

    But what can I say, I’m happy he’s playing so the last few years of his playing time aren’t completely wasted. Then again, it would be nice to see him mature and be the veteran guard who teaches the younger players how to be successful while being humble. His greatest attribute is his heart, but quite frankly at this point in his career it could easily be mistaken as arrogance. “When keeping it real goes wrong.” RIP Chapelle Show.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Klav, I think in five years, people aren’t going to be considering Europe a ‘waste.’ But I hear your point. As much as I like basketball in the a.m., it’s rough trying to watch games on other continents.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Whoa. Well, at least he’s got a job before training camp begins. I hope he does well there. Mayo will get to learn from the best, another good thing.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ SOFOKLIS SCHORTSIANITIS(down to 130 kg!!!)

    EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 3: not much time tonight,(but its for a good reason, if not for so many kids here i could give you more details…go to bed Eboy!!) so i will focus to the best game of the day,SPAIN-SLOVENIA. I had written that Slovenia will be one of the best teams of the tournament and they have not dissapointed up to now. The won Serbia yesterday relatively easy and tonight took a determined Spain to the limit ,giving up only after the extra 5 minutes of overtime. Although they were back 64-51 on the fourth quarter they got back after great effort from Dragic who had 6 (!!) steals in the final period. Navaro and Rudy where the best for Spain while Lakovic and Nachbar helped Dragic…at the other games Greece destroyed Israel, Turkey the hosts Poland (wake-up call for them, i told you i was waiting this a few hours ago Darksaber..)Parker,sorry, Frnce won against Russia and Latvia won but with no gain at all against a overachiving(but untalented) German team.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    @ James – yeah the issues were unrelated, my bad.

  • http://www.infamousklav.blogspot.com Klav

    Then again Ryne, five years ago AI was in his prime, LeBron was still imroving, and the Lakers tried buying a championship. Much can change in five years. AI might have been better off going overseas this year.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    He’s more combo gaurd than straight up SG Tavoris. He can run the point, I just wouldn’t really pick him as my starting PG at this point. In all fairness, the same criticism was thrown at Chauncey Billups early in his career. The only difference is that Chauncey could shoot and didn’t slash as much.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Better off in what respect? I’m not convinced this season will be all for naught in Memphis. I’ll be watching as much as possible. Juice Rudy and Iverson is more than enough.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    does this grizz team remind anyone of the late 90′s blazers, where they just tried to add as many big names as possible with no regard to team chemistry?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    @ albie – Same with NY when they had Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @albie: In some ways, I think. However, the Blazers were fringe contenders, or at least a shoe-in for the playoffs, and had a bunch more veterans than these Grizzlies do.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    While I agree the Blazers are leagues better than the Grizzlies are today, I’m willing to say that Memphis will at least be better than the Thunder this season. Bet.

  • http://www.infamousklav.blogspot.com Klav

    Ryne, looking back at his career this season will probably be easily forgotten. He could make more money playing in Europe and as reports come in, it appears to me that he is more in demand across the pond than here (then again that’s just my speculation). But this isn’t a contract year, this is a career saving/breaking season for him and if he decided to go to Europe I think this whole fiasco would have been avoided. One year in Europe could have been a good experience for him, perhaps slightly modifying how he plays and thinks and if he had a one year deal he could very well come back for ’10-’11 and be added to a contender. I don’t know at this point, there’s too many “IFs” with AI at this point, especially with which teams wanted his services/his skills/his desire to win/etc.

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    Lol Ryne. That’ll be a close one. If only (the Thunder) had a Legit big man, they would be a sick team. I think Thabeet would have helped them lots this year, even though he’s really raw right now.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    @Ryne: talent wise i think grizz will be a little ahead of the team that is formerly supersonics, but you can’t count out the chemistry the young ones have at OKC. i guess what it comes down to is who will handle game-end situations better.

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    end-game strat for the grizz: “GIVE ME THE BALL” will be called out by AI, OJ, RUDY, and Randolph.

  • http://www.infamousklav.blogspot.com Klav

    The last out of bounds play will be Gasol inbounding, giving it to either: Zbo, Rudy, OJ, or AI at the 3-point line ready to launch. Whoever is open, right?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    So much for Marc Gasol developing…

  • Vili

    haha so many questions but there is still an answer.

  • http://asfkl.com Jukai

    Who is Allen Iverson?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    All this talk of Iverson stunting the youngsters growth is a bit overrated but I don’t like this move and Michael Heisley looks like a sneaky guy who lies, I think he brung him in for ticket sales but this sucks because A.I. has to play on a team for financial reasons and teams are to delusional and dont want to bring him in for basketball reasons. He could have signed with the Bobcats.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Before I actually read the piece, if this article is ANOTHER freaking rumor, I’m going to be very, very annoyed because this is getting very, very tedious.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    I’m still annoyed, but not as annoyed as I could or would have been.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Mainly, because Memphis is not a good fit for AI, and the Knicks passed on him. Like they always do.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    I didn’t know that playing on a team headed to the playoffs was a criteria for this list. Since, you know, Kevin freaking Martin is better than AI. I just hope he drops a cool 22-23 ppg to silence the critics.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Ryne you are nuts. Jeff Green and Russel Westbrook are better then Rudy G@y and OJ Mayo. Kristic is better then Gasol. Harden is better then Z-Bo. Durant is about 1000x better then Iverson AT THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER. Plus Thabo, Nick Collison, Kyle Weaver,DJ White, Serge Ibaka, BJ Mullens, Shaun Livingston, Robert Varden, and Etan Thomas is a bench that is beyond solid. Add that to Scott Brooks, who is a rising star in the coaching side of the game (HIS PLAYERS ALL RESPECT/LIKE/LISTEN TO HIM) and it looks like a foolish statement to say the disfunctional mess that is the Grizzlies will be better. The Grizzlies, whose stated goal is to suck (yes they said it is better bussiness for them to lose games) will not win more games then OKC. Bet.

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

    Jukai Posted: Sep.9 at 6:39 pm
    Who is Allen Iverson?
    _
    He was the face of basketball, or his face was on a basketball…some guy. you just missed him, he just left practi…
    ping.

  • http://slamonline.com Jacob J

    I dont think the grizzlies are going to get better. I think they wouldve been better off without AI.NY shouldve got him after trading quienten richardson.This is how the west will be.
    1.Lakers
    2.Spurs
    3.Nuggets
    4.Blazers
    5.Mavericks
    6.Hornets
    7.Jazz
    8.Suns
    If I had to place the Grizz it would be… 14th in the west just ahead of the Kings.

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

    @Ryne: A lot of the comments and articles on this site have suggested that OKC has a chance at snagging the 8 seed this year. Are you suggesting the Grizz have a realistic shot at topping that? I’m not criticizing your logic in the least, I just find the optimism intriguing.

  • http://tinyurl.com/dhbqjr Ryan Biddulph

    Ryne,

    Twitter trumps the press once again :) As more of these guys take to tweeting (see: high school star Kyrie Iriving’s future announcement on twitter) the press will have to find more creative ways to get the scoop.

    As for the move he doesn’t seem to fit in to the team’s plans. Perhaps they need a locker room guy. AI seems to have matured over the years. Or have I have been Knicks and Cavs centric to notice otherwise ;)

    RB

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Wow Wayno, you are really obsessed with bashing Iverson. He was never the best player in the league at any given time? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Do I really need to elaborate?

  • http://slamonline.com Jacob J

    @ Teddy-the-Bear. We all in Detroit love bashing AI because all he did was create problems and was being the biggest pussy Ive ever seen. I dont know how may times Mike Bibby shot threes over AI and Devin Harris blew by him like he was at practice doing a lay-up.

  • http://slamonline.com DONONE

    NOOOOOOO!
    WHY GOD!? WHY!? HEAT OR KNICKS BABY!!! HEAT OR KNICKS!!!! (crying myself to sleep now)

  • http://slamonline.com DONONE

    MUTHAFUKK THA A.I HATERS!!!!

  • chintao

    It’s interesting how this post has brought country mo’fo’s (wayno) and forners (that guy whose name sounds like syphilis) together. You probably wouldn’t catch them at a tractor pull, eating baklava together. You might catch them “doing the greek” with one another, though.

  • http://Niketalk.com 1and12

    Thanks for using my photoshop SLAM !

    wish i was credited…

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Okay BET, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrooke are NOT better than OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay. Let’s make that clear. Do they mesh together a lot better? Yes they do. That’s probably why the Thunder are potentially better than the Grizzlies. They have a dedicated young core that contains good team chemistry and a coach they all love. And all the players know that their offensive output is playing second fiddle to Kevin Durant. At this point, OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay are still kind of battling to see who’s the better leader at the offensive end.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Of course, its pretty close so I’m just stating my opinion.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Don’t worry Wayno, I didn’t call YOU stupid, personally.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Blinguo

    Now on a roster. This is good if they trade him 3 games in like everyone’s favorite season, one removed. His salary isn’t enough to be traded for SHAQ! though. If Rudy Gay still wants to be an All Star, they have to trade Iverson. And what team won’t entertain bringing him in when his deal is up at the end of the year, just for some playoff risk to improve the team going in/trying to make it/put them over their conference rival matchups/as the trade dealine approaches and they want some All Star break publicity?
    -
    If not, Z-Boned.

  • http://slamonline.com B-Moore

    Too many muthauckas uckin with his shhhhh………

    Here’s hoping… AI leads with Grizzlies to the playoffs and all GMs fall in love with him and next year he is willing to accept a back-up role somewhere and get the ring he deserves.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    LOL Wayno thinks A.I. was not the best player in the league at any time? WOW. Its hard to say best player ever year because there were two guys named Duncan and Shaq but in 1999 Iverson was the best guard, 2000 Iverson was the best guard, 2001 Iverson was the best guard and best player,2002 Iverson was the best player and guard, 2003 Iverson was the best guard and maybe player (him or kobe.) 2004 Iverson was top 3 players. 2005 I think he was the best player in the league averaging 30 and 8 and easily best guard. 2006 He queitly averaged 33 and 8 and was the second best player in the league. 2007 went to a Nuggets team and was arguably a top 8 player and in 2008 I think he was top 5 players in the league aveargin 26.4 ppg, 7.1 apg, 2.2 steal and shooting 46 percent. 2009 He was not the best though or even top 10 because the Pistons didn’t know how to use one of the greatest players ever. Wayno quit hating, there is article Scoop Jackson go read that and Im sure you will be able to the part where he talks about why Iverson is hated by people like you. (braids,tats (tattos as you would say.), Hip-hop culture.) The Grizz could be a bad fit for AI but who knows what will happened?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    and Yeah Kobe just took the league over completely since 2005-2006.

  • http://Www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Chintao with da zingerrrrrrr!

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    This is comedy to me as I don’t see how all three of these amigos are going to get any touches. I hope AI just comes in as a leader and doesn’t try to make this his team…hold up what am I saying? This is AI we are talking about! Rudy or OJ just better be ready to give up some touches and lots of them. I predict the grizz will win around 30-35 games. play wit it.

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