Allen Iverson Leaves the Grizzlies

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• showmeyourwits Posted: Nov.7 at 10:50 pm
  I don’t think he’s done…at least I hope not. Fingers crossed for another shot with LB in Charlotte.

• Holy Baller Posted: Nov.7 at 10:55 pm
  He’s really going down the Marbury path now…..it’s just really sad to see this happen.

• Lucas Posted: Nov.7 at 10:57 pm
  How? How is this happening. Such a dominant force as Iverson was to fizzle out sooo fast. It’s unreal. Get well soon A.I

• Mya Posted: Nov.7 at 10:58 pm
  I don’t care what AI did , he should not be starting behind anyone in the NBA except for Kobe , Dwade and a few others..Conley is a bum !

• LeoneL Posted: Nov.7 at 10:59 pm
  He should have joined the ‘Cats. Still a fan though.

• Young C Posted: Nov.7 at 11:13 pm
  This is unbelievable and yet unsurprising at the same time. His ego couldn’t even let him come off the bench for 4 games. It is sad to watch this happen to such a talented and legendary player but we all should have seen this coming. From the practice rant, to what happened in Detroit, to this its always been the same with Iverson. Good and bad. His biggest problem is that he wants everything on his own terms, which is why no other team was interested in him. Unfortunately, we might be seeing the last of the Answer.

• jdote Posted: Nov.7 at 11:14 pm
  can i make a case for a.i….probably not successfully..but if he knew he was gonna come off the bench..he def wouldnt have signed with memphis..he might’ve retired.. if he knew he was gonna be forced to the bench.. he woulda probably signed with a championship team.. think about if.. if ai made a declaration at the beginning of the off season that he was gonna be a bench player.. i do believe a contendor would’ve taken a chance on him.. im an ai stan… can’t stand the wai he’s actin.. but i understand him feelin duped… a lot of ppl clown him for sayin he didnt know they were rebuildin..he’s ai man..he thinks u throw me with a tyronne hill and george lynch, and i got to the finals.. i can def make noise with rudy and oj…lastly..my ideal situation.. is that ai is a good soldier.. troops it out, and does his thing off the bench (he’s played well in limited minutes) and the team trades him to a contendor.. or struggling team who desperately needs scoring (NOH) and he competes and enjoys basketball again… sry bout the rant y’all.. just my thoughts

• Bkballin Posted: Nov.7 at 11:23 pm
  trade him to the knicks, his attitude will replace stephon marbury’s. and by the 1-6 start that the knicks have that would be a great trade.

• Pardeep Posted: Nov.7 at 11:37 pm
  Wow! I never pictured the day Iverson would be on the Grizzlies first of all. When it happened I never even thought about him having to come off the bench there I never knew he would leave after three games though. It is obvious the personal matters are because of playtime issues and Iverson should be patient. Iverson was supposed to start today against the Clippers according to ESPN. Iversons career is on the line this year and he should demand a trade. NOW GO TO THE BOBCATS LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE AND WERE SUPPOSED TO.

• Brian Posted: Nov.7 at 11:38 pm
  Was he wearing a wife beater when he met with the Memphis owner, I hope so. The worst thing that happened to AI was getting traded to the Pistons. Prior to that it was plausible that he was always done in by his teammates and situation.

• Pardeep Posted: Nov.7 at 11:38 pm
  What would be funny is if SLAM had AI on the next cover in his Memphis Gear. LOL

• lake Posted: Nov.7 at 11:39 pm
  Once again, the dude should be thankful that the Grizz even gave him a chance, considering nobody else was interested. This is getting ridiculous now…his whole career is going down the drain.

• namik Posted: Nov.7 at 11:49 pm
  B*tch move.

• BETCATS Posted: Nov.7 at 11:53 pm
  The Bobcats dont even have a spot for him now. We already delveloped chemistry and Flip Murray gives us the extra 10 points a game we needed. Unless we trade Raja Bell for a Power Forward, Allen Iverson will not be a Bobcat. Its a shame though, he should have signed with us, but felt that 1.5 million was disrespectful and needed the 3 million Memphis offered him. Tsk tsk tsk.

• BETCATS Posted: Nov.7 at 11:57 pm
  You guys just need to watch highlights from the Bobcats-Hawks game to see what our offense looks like when it is working at 100%. Too bad that rarely happens. But now that we saw what it can do when it is at its best, we wont break up because we can achive 100% at least 15-20 times this season. Plus we would suffer defensivly if we aquired Iverson. Unless Memphis is willing to take a big contract like Diop or Nazr, i dont know how we could even get him, Bob Johnson is trying to save money…

• Gerard Himself Posted: Nov.8 at 12:03 am
  I can only agree with Mutoni. This is a sad thing.

• BETCATS Posted: Nov.8 at 12:10 am
  15 years from now, whoever has a Iverson Pistons or Grizzlies jersey will be able to make a sh!tload of money of it. Those will become cult based items just like Rodman Lakers or Ewing Sonics jerseys.

• Michael NZ Posted: Nov.8 at 12:11 am
  Word, namik. Total b!tch move. No-one will pick this guy up… the Grizzles were the only team stupid enough to give this loser a shot anyway. And now after this (albeit predictable) affair? Forget it. And if I hear anything about picking him up ‘to sell tickets’ I’m gonna go crazy. If he joins my team then I ain’t payin’ thats for sure.

• RedYellowGreen Posted: Nov.8 at 12:17 am
  The Answer should join The King & The Diesel.

• M-Blog Posted: Nov.8 at 12:26 am
  I don’t care what AI did , he should not be starting behind anyone in the NBA except for Kobe , Dwade and a few others..Conley is a bum !

• rog123 Posted: Nov.8 at 12:37 am
  This is exactly why no one wants him on their squad

• gula Posted: Nov.8 at 12:58 am
  ay you Michael NZ whose ur team

• CARTEL Posted: Nov.8 at 1:02 am
  A.I. would be just fine if he would just except a 6th man position…if he does that, watch how many teams(playoff bound) would be willing to sign him!!!…whether he’s a starter or plays off the bench, he’s still gonna be an all star…

• CARTEL Posted: Nov.8 at 1:05 am
  accept*

• Joe Posted: Nov.8 at 1:10 am
  I thought Iverson should have gone to Charlotte during the offseason also. And i see a lot of people saying to trade him. But the sticky situation with this whole thing, is that AI cant be traded until after December 15th, due to the fact he signed as a free agent………And also, i was once (still am, just not on the obsessive level i was on while younger) an avid basketball trading card collector, and I had these two cards, i can’t remember the details of the card and what style and company, but it was the top point guards in the league. One card had Steve Francis and Baron Davis on it, and the Second Card had Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury on it…..steph and Steve out the league, AI on the grizzlies Baron a clipper…….all i can say is Wow! (used to be one of my fav. cards)

• RM Posted: Nov.8 at 1:22 am
  I think AI needs to go to the Knicks. People will embrace him into the starting lineup and the offense D’antoni runs fits AI’s style of gettin’ them shots up. Memphis was never a good spot for him. Their owner forced it upon their GM to sign AI for the fans, and AI is realizing this. He doesn’t want to play 10-15 minutes a game. A player of his caliber NEEDS to play 30 minutes a game. Two years ago, was he not a 24 ppg player? People forget too easily. AI’s one of the greatest of all time. Remember this.

• Sturm Drang Posted: Nov.8 at 1:30 am
  Ugh. I was feeling *SLIGHTLY* sympathetic to AI after Rip talked about their coach outright lying to them. But seriously, if a coach wants to bring you off the bench, you SHOULD come off the bench. Getting paid a bazillion dollars more than 99% of the world’s population will ever see in their entire lives to play a game doesn’t leave a guy much room to complain as though he’s being victimized. He’s being a fricking brat. It makes me think of Sprewell talking about having to feed his family. There are billions of people that would trade places with him for the right to get paid to come off the bench for an NBA team. I mean, nevermind all the regular people that could never play ball professionally. There’s so many NBA D-league players that would love to trade places with AI, or good NBA players that *CAN’T* play because of injuries like T-Mac or Yao. You can talk about being passionate and committed, but talking about wanting to win or wanting to play well doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t willing to put aside your ego if the situation calls for it. I can’t imagine Kareem, Larry Bird, or Magic throwing a tantrum like this.

• Wayno Posted: Nov.8 at 1:32 am
  He 100% brought this on himself…unless he changes I couldn’t care less if he ever plays in the NBA again…actually, I hope he doesn’t. I hope he retires a loser unless he decides to change his atttude.

• M Cho Posted: Nov.8 at 1:33 am
  Hold up a minute. Before people start crucifying A.I. here, lets wait until we get the full story. Even Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said that A.I.’s leave had nothing to do with him being upset at his role in Memphis. Heisley said Iverson left because he had “a real family issue that I don’t think should be reported.” I think the haters should chill for a few days until the whole truth comes out.

• Anton Posted: Nov.8 at 1:38 am
  Probably taking care of his “back injury”

• dma Posted: Nov.8 at 1:40 am
  iverson to the lakers. tnt we know drama.

• Darksaber Posted: Nov.8 at 2:16 am
  Biatch move, if this turns out to be him throwing a tantrum. At least we were spared the phantom injury excuse this time. Incredible athlete, hollywood attitude: good riddance.

• Sturm Drang Posted: Nov.8 at 2:29 am
  According to Yahoo: “The source said Iverson is going back to Atlanta, his offseason home, to clear his head and is extremely unhappy about the lack of communication with coach Lionel Hollins over his playing time and reserve role in three games since returning from an injury.”

• thomas Posted: Nov.8 at 2:50 am
  When will he realize that this is a team sport? He’s certainly not bigger than the other guys as a group…
  he really messed up his only chance at generating interest for him next season… it would have been so easy… be a good veteran leader help to develop your young talent, say all the right things, stay healthy/ in shape (which should be a little more difficult linking back to his practice rant), and do what your boss, i.e. coach wants you to do like any other employee… and then contenders would line up for this guy come next season

• Naiym1 Posted: Nov.8 at 3:30 am
  All I can say is that I was so bummed when he left Denver. It thought “why trade one of the best scorers, in the L’..If you would have told me that this is the Way A.I. career would end this way….Man I kinda feel bad for the dude…..

• Myles Brown Posted: Nov.8 at 3:31 am
  And case closed…

• underdog Posted: Nov.8 at 3:38 am
  Man, first Steph, then Toine, now A.I. The stars of the 1996 draft class are going downhill. Fortunately not all of them.

• FoCo Posted: Nov.8 at 4:32 am
  Toine! Now that was my Man! I’d like AI to pull his head out his backside and become an actual productive TEAMmate for the first time in his career but chance of that…

• thomas Posted: Nov.8 at 4:41 am
  how can you feel bad for the guy?!? please elaborate… curious to find out…

• Lee Posted: Nov.8 at 4:49 am
  As cliché as it sounds, you have to remember to only hate the player, not the game. The thing is, I can’t hate AI. I just can’t. Call me sentimental, but when he and the Sixers won Game 1 of the Finals in ’01… that was a real basketball high. We’ve been writin articles about Iverson being the only “real” athlete for years. I wish he had more athletes as candid as him. And I wish we had more athletes as enjoyable to watch.

• Lee Posted: Nov.8 at 4:51 am
  *we

• Hoodsnake Posted: Nov.8 at 5:10 am
  A bit of a surprise (thought he would flinch after 10 games lol) Anyway dusent matter who starts put great players finish

• Hoodsnake Posted: Nov.8 at 5:11 am
  A bit of a surprise (thought he would flinch after 10 games lol) Anyway dusent matter who start , great players finish

• Dacre Posted: Nov.8 at 6:05 am
  A.I. please come back.

• thomas Posted: Nov.8 at 6:52 am
  “I just want to win, I hate losing more than I like winning,” Iverson said prior to Friday’s game. “Its just a frustrating feeling losing. I’ve never been a loser in my career and I dont want to start now. I’m not trying to be selfish or anything like that, I just want to win.” yeah right… you did not make the playoffs your first two season, lost in the first round a couple of times (with Denver and Philly), got swept etc etc So to sum it all up, he thinks because he’s been known to be a winner for all his career (his “resume”) he’s supposed to start until he calls it quits… good luck with that Allen…

• Derrick Posted: Nov.8 at 7:41 am
  I know A.I.its not like him to quit….thats not his attitude toward the game of basketball…he loves Basketball with all his heart…besides his kids and his wife and family there’s nothing he loves more. So ..if there is something wrong trust me there is something wrong….AI has complained before about things the only place he was truly happy was in Philly it seems….And to play behind Conley is a slap in the face….think about it…this man is a living NBA legend!!! he holds scoring titles and he has Playoff records that only Jordan is ahead of him…so we are talking about a player who has accomplished so much having to come in and play behind a player who has accomplished nothing in the NBA. That just wrong….thats like Jordan coming in playing behind Joakim Noah…WTF!!I would be upset too and want to quit…and every team saying I got to come off the bench? WTF? Id take my 100 pluss million that I made during my carrere and chill too…go get into acting or something

• Shem Posted: Nov.8 at 8:22 am
  I honestly don’t see what he doesn’t understand. The Memphis Grizzlies are building towards the future. They have a young pg, sg benching them would set back their developement. Conley has come on strong and OJ Mayo is plain sick. No doubt, Iverson is the best and we both know that. I don’t think he should start BUT i do think he should get starter minutes. What i mean is that he should FINISH games. We all saw how when iverson left, the grizzlies lost. Whats more important starting the games or finishing them? I think finishing them.. just ask jason terry and ben gordon

• Shem Posted: Nov.8 at 8:28 am
  Did i mention Kevin Mchale hall of famer won two sixth man of the year awards?

• slawson Posted: Nov.8 at 8:40 am
  Gee… I didn’t see that coming.

• slawson Posted: Nov.8 at 8:43 am
  Let him start on a team with no shot. The Knicks would be perfect. If he went to Cleveland, it would assuredly destroy them.

• slawson Posted: Nov.8 at 8:44 am
  He would be good on the Nets… especially with their injuries already.

• tavoris Posted: Nov.8 at 8:48 am
  @Shem…conley’s come on strong?

• tavoris Posted: Nov.8 at 8:51 am
  And in case you’re keeping track, they’re 1-6 with their “highly touted” PG starting. He’s averaging 8.5 points, 5.8 assists, shooting less than 40% from the field, with 3 TURNOVERS per game. The grizz are losing because they have to play 5 on 4 for three quarters.

• RedRum Posted: Nov.8 at 9:11 am
  Another SLAM poster-boy bites the dust… can we start concentrating on real ballers from now on please?

• Derrick Posted: Nov.8 at 9:40 am
  @ Shem comming off the bench works for Gary Payton not Allen Iverson….Allen is a future Hall of Famer…and benching Conley wont hurt his development…he needs to learn from a pro…if that was the case people would go straight into starting positions from college playing in front of 8 or 9 year veterans…..thats like starting a rookie in front of Kobe since the rookie is the future of the team…..we got to live in the NOW!! not the future

• thomas Posted: Nov.8 at 9:43 am
  David Robinson immediately took the backseat to Tim Duncan when he came into the league despite the fact that he won an MVP in 1995, a scoring title, he was ROY when he first came into the league, scored a sh*tload of points against the Clippers (71 if I’m not mistaken) etc etc that’s how you successfully compete in Team Sports! Age will catch up to every Sportlegend! This whole “look what I’ve accomplished attitude” is just childish. As has been mentioned above me: Kevin McHale, a HOF athlete won the 6th man award TWICE!!!

• cb 34 Posted: Nov.8 at 10:29 am
  Daym! He just killed his career right here. He wasn’t supposed to go out like this. He’s still too good to leave the game. Wish he’d just man up and shut up until he has to retire. Pride never helps, it only hurts. Truly a sad moment for the league.

• Joel O's Posted: Nov.8 at 10:36 am
  Oh no. This is terrible.

• funkdoc Posted: Nov.8 at 11:28 am
  I just can’t understand that Iverson and Hollins never spoke about this. Why would Iverson sign a contract if he wasn’t sure he would be starting? And all the nonsense that he doens’t want to be losing, I don’t think that’s what it is. His ego is too big for him to sit on the bench, he wants to start for a losing team…and if they still lose, he’d be quite fine I guess.

• jihad Posted: Nov.8 at 11:48 am
  I’m an AI fan. Have been 4ever. Never understood his irrational behavior though. Man is easily one of the best to ever lace ‘em up but he is extremely selfish in his behavior towards his teams. He is probably, for all intents and purposes, out of the league for good at this point. He is running out of teams and excuses. If it is a legit family matter, god speed! If it is his ego…..good riddance! People are struggling right now! To hell with him! This from a Philly fan born and bread!

• rog123 Posted: Nov.8 at 11:52 am
  I am sure ai can still be a deadly scorer, but I don’t know why people act like this is 2001. He had his chance in denver, with a hell of a team. But he failed. It took a TRUE TEAM PLAYER in billups to get denver into elite status

• Darksaber Posted: Nov.8 at 11:55 am
  On a related note, the Grizzlies light blue joints are FIRE… damn, that’s a hood redesign.

• TADOne Posted: Nov.8 at 12:12 pm
  I’ve gotten rid of my AI Sixers jersey. I can’t really defend this guy anymore…

• Darksaber Posted: Nov.8 at 12:17 pm
  I sympathize, TAD

• Brian Posted: Nov.8 at 12:27 pm
  Memphis is 5th in the L in scoring. Conley is a PG and AI is not, that is why he starts. AI won the MVP when he was moved to the 2. AI expects everyone else to change, to play w/out the ball and to play D which are the exact things he can’t do.

• Brad Long Posted: Nov.8 at 12:29 pm
  …..

• Dru Ha Posted: Nov.8 at 12:32 pm
  Nothing but a hyped up Slam generation player, AI. No concept of basketball intelligence, undersized, volume scorer at best, horrific defender, team chemistry destroyed (ask Carmelo if he misses him LMAO), selfish, locker rook cancer, me-first attitude, over-dribbler, terrible practice player, makes all his teammates worse, nobody has every enjoyed playing with him not named Eric Snow, the list goes on and on. It’s not sad to see at all. He’s always been this way: but in his prime he could get away with it. Now, he’s a nothing player fading into obscurity. He’ll enjoy the Polish league next year.

• alapatrick Posted: Nov.8 at 1:09 pm
  dude is u knucklehead. 3 games in! kinda funny really. he still can ball but it’s sad to tarnish his h.o.f. career
  hopefully he pulls himself together

• The Philosopher Posted: Nov.8 at 1:26 pm
  He is just one of those people who think they’re better than they really are. He has the God complex and a short man complex. He’s never gotten over himself. He’s the Isiah Thomas of hip hop.

• thomas Posted: Nov.8 at 1:28 pm
  to contribute further to the A.I. bashing… He was a member on the 2004 Olympic squad… You are truly a winner A.I.

• The Philosopher Posted: Nov.8 at 1:33 pm
  If he were a baseball player pulling this quagmire, the powers that be would never let him in the hall of fame.That’s the only thing about today’s game. They let almost anyone in the Hall of Fame in basketball.

• Eric Posted: Nov.8 at 2:04 pm
  Iverson have always been a great player. One of my favorite. But too bad is so dumb. Such an amazing talent, but wasting the end of his career with the behavior of a 14 years old. Great respect for his game. But no respect for his personality. A good player is all about basketball and team basketball. Iverson is only now about attitude. A real diva… Grow up man and be professional especially with the kind of money you’re making (but I guess now it’s too late) ! This is no tennis but basketball. Not everything can be about yourself. Such a waste…

• Michael Scorn Posted: Nov.8 at 2:06 pm
  How come these personal issues never came up when he was playing 40 minutes a game?

• K-Nasty Posted: Nov.8 at 2:22 pm
  What other options does he have? The guy is honestly a cancer right now. He’s done, or should be. And as for his game, well, apart from a trip to the Finals in a weak year for the East, when has his game led to any winning at all? The guy was a good player for his size and a great ticket seller. Nothing more.

• jk_light Posted: Nov.8 at 2:24 pm
  I went to the States last christmas and looked for a jersey for my 6 year old nephew. All I could find in that size with an acceptable price was AI’s Denver Jersey. And all I thought was that I don’t want him to start playin Basketball in an Allen Iverson Jersey cause that is not what he should play like.

• MoNiQuE Posted: Nov.8 at 2:43 pm
  no waaaay

• 6marjons Posted: Nov.8 at 2:52 pm
  dude’s an idiot i respect him and he should have been a hall of famer, my fingers are still crossed for him but i don’t expect him to be first ballot due to the pas few years

• Jon Posted: Nov.8 at 3:00 pm
  People hate on Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady for quitting on their teams, yet don’t hold Allen Iverson accountable for his SELFISH, RIDICULOUS WHIMS? In my opinion, this egotistical, waste of a roster spot has been an even bigger loser than anyone in the game today.

• Dru Ha Posted: Nov.8 at 3:14 pm
  Is there ever an athlete that’s selfish he deserves the letter “i” in his moniker or nickname. Sums it all up.

• Jukai Posted: Nov.8 at 3:20 pm
  Okay, so maybe he just needs some time to suck up the fact that he doesn’t have a big role in the team and just relax, knows it’s just a year, and make the best out of it? I crucify AI for everything, but I’m also going to give him a couple of emotional days to clear his head. If you all gave it to Delonte, you owe it to AI.
  If he doesn’t return because he can’t play a bench role, yeah, go after him like he deserves. Let’s give it a few games.

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.8 at 3:28 pm
  Jukai, you’re an idiot. He should be playing at LEAST 30-35 minutes a game for Memphis to even have a chance at competing. Have you even seen him play this year? He looks great out there, shoots a high percentage, AND usually leads his team in assists by playing a bullsh!t 20 minutes. Imagine how he could help his team if their coach actually let him play?
  Against the Lakers he was burning Jordan Farmar and he could have dropped 30 EASILY over their guards, but he barely had a chance to play.
  Its not about who starts, but who finishes games; do you really think MIKE CONLEY should be finishing games instead of Allen Iverson? Are you f*cking high?

• Jukai Posted: Nov.8 at 3:42 pm
  Okay, I thought I was being nice about this when literally every other person was calling Iverson spoiled, but yeah, let’s call me out here.
  Look, of COURSE Iverson should be playing 30-35 minutes a game for Memphis to be ‘competitive.’ That goes without saying. That, unfortunately for Iverson, has never been Memphis’ goal. They want to develop their young stars in Conley, OJ, Rudy, and Marc… while becoming a lottery team. Iverson was signed to sell jerseys. This was clear since day 1. -Day 1- literally there were press conferences stating all of this. NBK2K10 and NBA Live had Iverson come off the bench for Conley for chrissakes!
  Memphis has never been about winning. If they wanted to win, I’d say they continue to start Conley, but either bring Iverson or OJ off the bench and then play them in the crunch. That’s not Memphis’ MO. Iverson has to understand that. Iverson turned down teams that were in more of a chance to compete because he wanted more money. Now Iverson can’t start complaining. He’s made his bed. He has to sleep in it. He cannot ‘fake another injury.’
  He’s gotta ride the bench like any other disgruntled star.
  Lord, it’s just for a year! Who knows what will happen later in the rotation. Regardless of the team being competitive or not, this is how Memphis wants it. Iverson’s getting paid twice as much as any other of his other options to understand that.

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.8 at 4:14 pm
  Both sides made bad decisions, but the Memphis Grizzlies are free from any media bullsh!t? Really? They’re tanking their seasons every year and they finally sign a star that can help them–but hey, let’s just sell jerseys!
  The Grizzlies are a joke of an organization. Say what you want about Iverson, but at least he wants to compete. He and the Grizzlies know they have no shot whatsoever at ANYTHING without giving him proper minutes.

• JD Posted: Nov.8 at 4:21 pm
  Here’s a list of thing which are more likely than AI being happy in every way in Memphis:
  The Sacramento Kings winning the NBA Championship
  Elvis being found to alive and well
  I finding the Loch Ness Monster in a puddle
  The league allowing Tim Donaghy to ref the finals
  Russell Brand coaching Team USA at the next Olympics
  England winning the Football World Cup
  The Vatican City Football Team competing and winning the NFL
  Vladmir Putin winning an Oscar
  John McCain trying to stage a Communist Revolution

• Izzo Posted: Nov.8 at 4:27 pm
  Okay: As much as I think it’s in both Iverson’s and the Grizzlie’s best interests to do this and I hope that somehow I can be sorted out by either AI accepting his role on the team or a mutual cancellation of the contract, there’s no way on hell you can even spin AI deciding to join Memphis as him ‘wanting to compete’. AI wants to score and control the way a team plays basketball. If he really wanted to compete he would have accepted a smaller role on a contending team, or less money for more of a chance of actually winning something in his career. The only thing the Grizz actually owe him is his salary, the coach can pick whatever team he thinks will benefit the franchise and he’s doing that. Playing AI 48 minutes a game only goes towards helping Iverson pad his career stats and certainly doesn’t make Memphis a winning team. Teddy do you really think that Memphis have a shot at the playoffs this season if they play AI 40+ minutes? If yes, you may be more optimistic than you are rational. If no, then why not develop a squad that can be pretty good in a few years instead of appeasing AI’s one year layoff? AI playing an AI role does nothing but help AI.
  Not wanting to mention the R word but I think it may not be out of the question. If he were to retire, it’ll be a shame to end it like that, but not unexpected. I hope this time means that he’s re-evaluating how he sees himself and what he can give a team. As much as I think it’s unlikely and as ‘anti AI’ I probably come across in these comments, I’d really like to see AI proving that he can play the veteran role this year and signing with a contender next year. Wishful thinking, maybe.

• nastierthanu Posted: Nov.8 at 4:48 pm
  As boogaloo said to tommy shepard “they can’t change what we was”. No team might take him but the h.o.f will

• jay Posted: Nov.8 at 5:07 pm
  ok. It’s official. All excuses in favor are now laughable. I wouldn’t want that guy on my team if I got him for free. AI=marbury. period.

• Jukai Posted: Nov.8 at 5:25 pm
  Izzo: I wouldn’t mind him on Phoenix! Really!
  Teddy: The Grizzlies has been the trash heap of the league since they MOVED to Memphis. Every year people laugh at them for tanking because they never get the first round draft pick. Memphis is not above criticism. But as Izzo said, AI sort of walked into this. He didn’t want to compete. He wanted money and shot opportunities. He’s only getting one of those and now he’s angry.

• tom Posted: Nov.8 at 5:28 pm
  i admire Iversons mind-set, he’s either going to win the game for his team or lose it, he was so good in Philly that his play had a direct ipact on wether or not the team won. Now he’s getting enough playing time to come off the bench give the team some offense then sit back down and watch the outcome. That’s a lot to get used to for someone who wants to give everything he has to win each and every game.

• Shem Posted: Nov.8 at 6:01 pm
  @Derrick: Memphis is a team looking towards the future, the organisation knows that they will not win a championship now so why not just start the rookies and give them some playing time? I m not saying give the rookies more minutes, just the start. To be honest, I would rather finish games then start them and i completely disagree with how memphis benched iverson in the end a couple games back. Oh and I rephrase: Conley came on strong after the all-star break last season but started this year struggling. Allen Iverson shouldnt mind coming off the bench he should mind 18 mins, he deserves 12 more

• TADOne Posted: Nov.8 at 6:02 pm
  I love how people say AI is nothing but a ‘hyped up Slam era player’. I’m sorry, but that just rubs me the wrong way. I’m quite sure pretty much every other media outlet in the Western hemisphere gave AI some spotlight in one way or another as well. AI is still one of the greatest players of his generation, but he will also go down as one of the era’s biggest ego’s. It is really a shame because I believe deep down that AI has his heart in the right place a good percentage of the time with all of his charity work and his early Sixers years where to a man, every teammate genuinely liked and respected AI. He just strikes me as someone who hasn’t figured out his game can no longer be a focal point and he cannot accept it.

• Shem Posted: Nov.8 at 6:08 pm
  One more thing, this was Iversons year to prove he can be a team player. I understand Conley over him is disrespect but listen where do you think this guy will go after this year? What team in their right minds (except the knicks) would sign this guy after this for the money and minutes he expects? I bet if he accepted his bench spot he would have gotten more minutes later on AND after this year he could have gotten signed by a team like the heat or the blazers and started at pg. Its not about this year its about the 2nd contract where he makes more money and minutes. Once again: Kevin McHale top 10 pf all time won 6th man twice!

• JE Posted: Nov.8 at 6:10 pm
  I feel like none of these problems would have ever surfaced if he had just stayed in Philly. He probably feels the same way.

• luv2ball Posted: Nov.8 at 6:12 pm
  lol @nastierthenu These young bucks don’t know what you are talking about! RIp Bernie MAc Anyone with a basketball IQ would know that starting A.I. , Mayo, and Rudy Gay would be like adding mentos to Diet coke (you tube that if you don’t know what I’m talking about). All three of those guys need the ball to be effective. And Oj and Rudy don’t play D good enough to start a game along with A.I. Is Conley better then A.I.? Hell no, but A.I. (and I blame Larry brown for this) is a 2 guard in his head. You start A.I. and Conley in the backcourt and whomever the opposing 2 guard is will have a frikkin field day . A.I. is a gifted player, but in my humble opinion the worst thing for his career was him moving to the 2. He should have been playing PG this whole time. Or if he was really about winning he could be a 6th man for a contender. As you saw with Melo, A.I. is just not conditioned. be on a team with another scorer. Honestly the chemistry with him and Denver was horrendous. He is 34, no more excuses A.I. if you really want a ring you need to conform your game, not have a team conform to what you think you are. What type of example are you setting for those young Grizzlies? The NBA will be here when you are gone and you are to talented and to much of an icon to go out like this. Hell how much do you think it bother Mourning to back up Shaq? But he did it for the ring!

• Dacre Posted: Nov.8 at 6:50 pm
  just give hime a few days people.

• dimedroppa10 Posted: Nov.8 at 7:17 pm
  AI still thinks of himself as 2000 AI, your old and washed up dude, not even the GRIZ have time for your selfish “all about me antics”, he’s team cancer and finally done. You’ll always be known for “PRACTICE, were talking about PRACTICE”. Every champion knows that’s when you make yourself better, not just game time!!

• barnabusb Posted: Nov.8 at 7:25 pm
  It’s funny reading all the posts saying, “AI should go here! AI should go there!” Newsflash: none of those teams want him.

• The Philosopher Posted: Nov.8 at 7:34 pm
  He has the “Jordan” complex too. He and Isiah always thought they should be mentioned in the same breath as Michael, Magic, and Larry Legend. “PRACTICE”?!?!?!?!!!

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.8 at 7:53 pm
  TAD, I thought you threw out all your AI Sixers jerseys and you couldn’t defend him anymore.

• vic21 Posted: Nov.8 at 8:10 pm
  AI is pathetic.

• Moose Posted: Nov.8 at 8:23 pm
  +1@ Dacre. Let him get it together, he will.

• Tarzan Cooper Posted: Nov.8 at 8:45 pm
  anyone else remember his last season in denver? he was killing it, all kinds of stories how he grew and developed, etc. his production has fallen off as quick as stevie franchise. ai can still do it tho, he just needs a team that he can fit in with. i think chicago or toronto would both be good fits

• Tariq Posted: Nov.8 at 9:10 pm
  Izzo is the man. On another note, I find people who question Iverson’s overall career funny.

• Jacob J Posted: Nov.8 at 9:35 pm
  I told y’all that AI is the biggest wineass and will not become a team player. If he had to go to a new team I think its the bobcats.

• Jacob J Posted: Nov.8 at 9:37 pm
  @ JE. AI couldnt of stayed in Philly because they traded him and AI didnt ask for it.

• dimedroppa10 Posted: Nov.8 at 10:21 pm
  Tariq..AI career individual stats are solid, but as a team leader not so much. The PG first option is not to score, but to make your team mates better. He never moved beyond trying to make himself better/get his points, that’s why no one wants him.

• Joel O's Posted: Nov.8 at 10:33 pm
  Jukai: Absolutely spot-on comment at 3:42pm.

• Joel O's Posted: Nov.8 at 10:39 pm
  What I don’t get is why AI doesn’t realize that he can still easily impress the pants off any GM at this point. From the way things look, the only problem right now is his ego – he doesn’t want to be seen as a bench player. This might just be the last straw, but I think there’s still hope. GM’s don’t just look at absolute PPG numbers only, the standardized per-36 stats are more comparable and important. So if AI comes off the bench and guns like a MFer and pours in 18 points in say 20 mpg, ANY TEAM would still want him. But I’m really afraid that he hasn’t learned a single thing since the Detroit situation last year. I hope AI proves us all wrong, because the alternative is… really sad.

• doyouwantmore Posted: Nov.8 at 11:02 pm
  Worst talent to attitude ratio in the history of the NBA?

• doyouwantmore Posted: Nov.8 at 11:08 pm
  What if AI is just not that bright? His talent is unquestionable, but he’s so narcisstic and doesn’t seem to understand he’s not a franchise player anymore. He still thinks of himself as an MJ, Kobe, or Lebron, carrying a team to a championship. He’s been showing off his million dollar necklaces but seems to come up short in jewelry with meaning.

• Denise Posted: Nov.8 at 11:09 pm
  Give the Grizz a chance!! Please come back & play for the team. I, along with several friends was so excited when we heard you chose Memphis!! Remember your opening fan day in Memphis at Fed Ex Forum?? Think back to that day & come on back & make us win some games!!

• Denise Posted: Nov.8 at 11:09 pm
  Give the Grizz a chance!! Please come back & play for the team. I, along with several friends was so excited when we heard you chose Memphis!! Remember your opening fan day in Memphis at Fed Ex Forum?? Think back to that day & come on back & make us win some games!!

• doyouwantmore Posted: Nov.8 at 11:19 pm
  Re: Coming off the bench: “I’m so tired of discussing that, talking about that, every single day. It’s just not something that I want to discuss” – - – Hey here’s an idea Allen: Shut up.

• M-Blog Posted: Nov.8 at 11:39 pm
  I agree..He’s not a bench player and surely shouldn’t be a bench player behind no bum **** Conley who get lost on every damn play ..AI problem has nothing to do with his game ..He misss practice over late dates with strippers and never come to the team sponsorship events ..And everyone know sponsorships are the backbone of the NBA ..I prayed for the last 10 years that he would change but he haven’t ..Those hood “yes men” and strippers cost him his career …I am upset and baffled that this man can’t get a 3rd chance when Wall Street get 3-4 bailout PACKAGES ..
  HE IS A STARTED AND YES HE SHOULD START …….You think Shaq would start behind Sam Dalembert ? NO …

• M-Blog Posted: Nov.8 at 11:41 pm
  RM Posted: Nov.8 at 1:22 am
  I think AI needs to go to the Knicks. People will embrace him into the starting lineup and the offense D’antoni runs fits AI’s style of gettin’ them shots up. Memphis was never a good spot for him. Their owner forced it upon their GM to sign AI for the fans, and AI is realizing this. He doesn’t want to play 10-15 minutes a game. A player of his caliber NEEDS to play 30 minutes a game. Two years ago, was he not a 24 ppg player? People forget too easily. AI’s one of the greatest of all time. Remember this.
  ________________________________
  I agree! Perfect offensive fit ..

• The D Train Posted: Nov.8 at 11:46 pm
  am i blocked from this site? my posts are not showing up on any response…

• Hursty Posted: Nov.9 at 12:03 am
  LMAO @ JD

• Hursty Posted: Nov.9 at 12:23 am
  D Train – Not blocked, everyone’s comments get eaten on this site for some reason.

• Jukai Posted: Nov.9 at 12:35 am
  I’m trying to figure out how I can get Ricky Rubio into this conversation

• The D Train Posted: Nov.9 at 12:47 am
  would Napoleon sit on the bench? no. AI has that complex, combined with the racism he’s faced in his life. AI answers to no man, and in fact, will be held down by no man. Humility, thy name is not Allen Iverson. For better or worse, this is the attitude that helped Iverson achieve what we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed…and at other times not enjoyed. Much like Jordan’s HOF speech, we cannot laud these dudes for the attitude they display when it suits us, then rain on them for it when we don’t like it. Iverson has been true to Iverson since day one. Sometimes we enjoy that single-mindedness, and other times we do not

• Hursty Posted: Nov.9 at 1:04 am
  Jukai – if the Grizzlies had taken Rubio instead of Thabeet – as was projected on several mock drafts I saw, Iverson would never have landed in Memphis, probably gone to Charlotte (and in doing so made BET happy at the time).

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.9 at 1:16 am
  doyouwantmore: Iverson is probably smarter than you are, I`ll tell you that.
  “He still thinks of himself as an MJ, Kobe, or Lebron, carrying a team to a championship.“ Wait, LeBron carried his team to a championship? LMAO when did that happen? At least Iverson WON 1 game in the Finals.
  Thanks for playing though.

• joe Posted: Nov.9 at 2:03 am
  i bet if kobe came off of the bench he would act the same way too..

• Wayno Posted: Nov.9 at 2:11 am
  I bet if AI wasn’t such a tool he’d at least have 1 ring by now…

• chintao Posted: Nov.9 at 2:30 am
  Can I start an NBA franchise? I’ll take Iverson, Marbury, Bonzi, Wang Zhi Zhi, and whatever other cast-offs I can find. I bet you at the end of the year we’d have a better record than the Knicks, the Nets, and the Grizz.

• Anton Posted: Nov.9 at 2:57 am
  lol @ JD, Jukai

• doyouwantmore Posted: Nov.9 at 3:37 am
  @Teddy – Wow, you really know your NBA history! I am aware that Lebron hasn’t won a championship, dumba$$. If you could make it through a whole sentence without getting confused you’d have read that I’m saying AI still thinks of himself as the franchise player.

• karan Posted: Nov.9 at 4:58 am
  knicks need to sign the answer.

• andrew Posted: Nov.9 at 5:45 am
  say what you want about this whole thing but iverson represented what was good about the league for the majority of a decade.. he was THE scoring guard before stern changed the rules to make it the norm.. the press conference immortalised by dj jazzy jeff on the song practice.. iverson taking time off is the best thing he can do get his mind right and give it one last shot because there is no way he can still play the way he used to the beatings he has taken has finally caught up to him (think back to the reebok ad he did http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=areBUihbfTs) i wish him all the best

• MoNiQuE Posted: Nov.9 at 6:15 am
  im not gonna believe this until i hear him say it himself we all know the media like 2 make up a load of BS stories about him

• M-Blog Posted: Nov.9 at 7:51 am
  @Derrick I agree Conley is a bum ..Ai should not be playing behind him ..PERIOD

• mookie Posted: Nov.9 at 8:24 am
  the fall of iverson since 2008 is the result of constant bashing by the media and a concentrated effort by the media, david stern, and other decision makers to boot him off the league. iverson’s larger than life presence hinders stern’s vision of a kobe vs. lebron james league.

• Rikson Posted: Nov.9 at 8:52 am
  Iverson, forced by the rude man hollins to come of the bench, takes his ball and goes home….

• Brad Long Posted: Nov.9 at 8:57 am
  Mookie:I guarntee David Stern does not want Allen Iverson out of the league. David Stern likes to make money.

• JR MARTIN Posted: Nov.9 at 9:08 am
  You can’t put a good man down. A.I. will rise to this occassion. He’s been thru a lot in his life that I have no doubts he will make it through this simple test.

• Sturm Drang Posted: Nov.9 at 11:11 am
  Iverson’s problems have almost never been about his on-court performance… but about everything else. OK, his numbers are still efficient and he is still the best person on the Grizzlies, but if he’s still a locker room cancer… you can’t make him the leader of a team of young players and risk contaminating them with his habits. This article is about Chauncey, but peripherally, it says volumes about the kind of influence Iverson is on a team and why Denver performed so much better after Iverson was traded away. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=090511/billups

• Sturm Drang Posted: Nov.9 at 11:17 am
  “iverson’s larger than life presence hinders stern’s vision of a kobe vs. lebron james league.” …Which league are you watching? AI’s only relevance now is in the circus he provides outside of the game. It is the league of Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Howard… and then what names come next? Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, Nash, Amare… How many names does a GM tick off before he gets to AI as a person he wants on his team? Oh, that’s right, the only team that wanted him this season is Memphis. Uh, huh.

• Sturm Drang Posted: Nov.9 at 11:33 am
  In case people aren’t up to reading the entire article about Billups, here are the relevant paragraphs: Iverson has been popular but counterproductive in Denver. Key members of the organization say that Iverson has partied some nights until 3 in the morning, and that Denver’s two most crucial players — Anthony and J.R. Smith — have tried to keep up with him. They say Anthony and Smith look at Iverson with reverence, the same way Chauncey’s generation looked at Michael Jordan. So when A.I. says, “Let’s go out,’” they go out. When A.I. wears a sleeve on his arm, they wear a sleeve. Especially the impressionable Smith, who has never met a shot he didn’t like. The Nuggets have managed to win 50 games in 2007-08 living this way, but it’s clear they have hit their ceiling. A.I., Anthony and Marcus Camby are all “ball stoppers,” meaning they rarely pass. A lot of times, the Denver offense has consisted of Iverson dribbling right, Iverson dribbling left and Iverson taking a fadeaway. The sorry offense has led to sorrier defense, but Karl’s pleas for ball movement have fallen on deaf ears.”

• riggs Posted: Nov.9 at 12:29 pm
  of course the grizzlies wanna sell some jerseys, who the f*ck is gonna buy a rudy gay one?

• Boogieman Posted: Nov.9 at 2:34 pm
  Give it up ai

• boykins def Posted: Nov.9 at 10:02 pm
  Who can gaurd ai no answer

• boykins def Posted: Nov.9 at 10:09 pm
  Ai should start his own league let me play sg

• boykins def Posted: Nov.9 at 10:10 pm
  Ai should start his own league let me play sg rebok help sponsor it

• Duke Posted: Nov.10 at 3:24 pm
  AI knew the Grizz wanted him to come off the bench. He even said that he wouldnt like it but it wont show in his game…. AI is a buster.. shut up, play your roll and get your 3 million… I give it 2 more games and he would have been starting anyway.

• CORY Posted: Nov.22 at 3:14 pm
  I was so excited after the news went public that A.I. was joining the GRIZZLES. Here it is like a month and a half later and he may finally be leaving. This veteran elite superstar isn’t making the playing time he needs. The GRIZZLES can not afford to let he go. Im in Tampa,Florida and couldn’t wait to move back home and catch IVERSON playing in Memphis. This is one of the biggest and greatest affairs that has happened in Memphis since the mike tyson fight at the pyramid. This guy does exactly what he’s suppose to do on the court.IVERSON is in the COBY and lebron class. He does more than contribute as a player. he is the point man for the GRIZZLES. now they have these sometimes good ball players. These off brand players are like off brand bologna. Memphis is a smaller market and could land great players after Allens career as a GRIZZLES player. He can also do great things with the kids as well. Im deeply hurt by this guys departure. I think after this season they should fire that coach hollins. Memphis should go after Patrick Ewing. He’s an assistant coach for the orlando magic and has knowledge of how basketball should be played. New York didn’t have a spot for he in the front office, so memphis needs to hire he and attract greater players. Memphis has to be known as something more than Elvis, B.B. King and barbecue. They should ask that he comes back and make it about he only. They need to advertise more that a champion has arrived on GRIZZLES headquarters. There should be family packs where tickets are minimized in price so that every adult and every child can enjoy watching there favorite players. Allen IVERSON will awaken that dead city. He can profit that city so much and even after he leaves after playing and ending his career in Memphis. This guy can play til he’s about 38 or 39 and then he can maybe become a bench mark at that age. Dam! why did this have to happen to memphis.