Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 10:45 pm  |  145 responses

Allen Iverson Leaves the Grizzlies

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Six games into the adventure, and Allen Iverson has apparently had it with Memphis. The Answer has asked for a leave of absence from the Grizzlies.

According to the local paper, Iverson left to deal with a personal matter. He reportedly left this afternoon, missing tonight`s game against the Clippers.

The Commercial Appeal has the scant details:

The Allen Iverson saga has taken another turn as the veteran guard asked for and was granted permission to leave the Grizzlies to deal with a personal matter, according to an NBA source.

Iverson, 34, met with Griz owner Michael Heisley Friday night following the team’s 114-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The pair met again this morning, and Iverson was expected to depart for Atlanta this afternoon. Atlanta is where Iverson lives during the offseason.

According to Yahoo!, Iverson is headed to Atlanta to clear his head. More details are sure to emerge in the coming days. Iverson, who was injured at the start of the season, only suited up for three games in a Grizzlies uniform.

As an A.I. fan, it`s tremendously sad to watch his career fizzle out in such shameful fashion.

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  • slawson

    He would be good on the Nets… especially with their injuries already.

  • tavoris

    @Shem…conley’s come on strong?

  • tavoris

    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

    Another SLAM poster-boy bites the dust… can we start concentrating on real ballers from now on please?

  • Derrick

    @ 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

    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!!!

  • http://slamonline.com cb 34

    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.

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

    Oh no. This is terrible.

  • funkdoc

    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

    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

    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

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    On a related note, the Grizzlies light blue joints are FIRE… damn, that’s a hood redesign.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    I’ve gotten rid of my AI Sixers jersey. I can’t really defend this guy anymore…

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    I sympathize, TAD

  • Brian

    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.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    …..

  • Dru Ha

    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

    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

  • http://none The Philosopher

    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

    to contribute further to the A.I. bashing… He was a member on the 2004 Olympic squad… You are truly a winner A.I.

  • http://none The Philosopher

    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

    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

    How come these personal issues never came up when he was playing 40 minutes a game?

  • K-Nasty

    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

    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

    no waaaay

  • 6marjons

    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

    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

    Is there ever an athlete that’s selfish he deserves the letter “i” in his moniker or nickname.

    Sums it all up.

  • http://fjklf.com Jukai

    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

    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?

  • http://fjklf.com Jukai

    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

    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

    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

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Izzo

    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

    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

    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.

  • http://fjklf.com Jukai

    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

    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

    @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

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    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

    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!

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

    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

    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!

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

    just give hime a few days people.

  • dimedroppa10

    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

    It’s funny reading all the posts saying, “AI should go here! AI should go there!” Newsflash: none of those teams want him.

  • http://none The Philosopher

    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

    TAD, I thought you threw out all your AI Sixers jerseys and you couldn’t defend him anymore.

  • vic21

    AI is pathetic.

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