Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  215 responses

No Longer Just a Report, Iverson Reuniting With Sixers

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Following the 11th hour collapse of negotiations between Allen Iverson and the New York Knicks two weeks ago, it’s important to tread carefully when it comes to this story. There are no guarantees.

According to ESPN, however, talks between A.I. and his former team went really well yesterday in Dallas, and the Sixers could have Iverson back in uniform next week against the Nuggets in Philly.

And what a scene that would be:

Two sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the Sixers are indeed targeting Monday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets — another of Iverson’s former teams — if they go forward with what appears to be a growing intent to bring back their controversial franchise icon.

One source said that the team has already made tentative plans to send assistant coach and former Iverson teammate Aaron McKie home from the Sixers’ current road trip to meet Iverson in Philadelphia later this week and work him out to ensure Iverson’s readiness for the Denver game. The Sixers play Thursday in Oklahoma City and Saturday in Charlotte before returning to Philadelphia … “No doubt he’s coming back,” one source said.

As for the current Sixers, how would they feel about Iverson rejoining the squad? For the most part, they seem to be for it. Lou Williams is excited about the possibility, and Samuel Dalembert has already visualized it in his dreams.

As always, stay tuned.

UPDATE: It’s a done deal. Allen Iverson has accepted Philly’s one-year, non-guaranteed offer. Team president Ed Stefanski had this to say: “In light of the recent injury to Lou Williams, which will sideline him for close to eight weeks, we felt that Allen was the best available free agent guard to help us at this time.”

As Allen Iverson wrote this morning on Twitter: “Back to Philly where it all started!”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • peter

    A bit more enthusiasm from Stefanski perhaps? Obviously there is trepidation due to recent events but come on, the guy is a Philadelphia legend, greatest Sixer or all time…could have at least made mention of that rather than talking about him like he was just another guard on the pile.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Despite AI’s disgusting retirement publicity stunt, this is probably the best situation for him. He’s back where the fans love him and he can be the guy again…I wonder how Iggy will take this.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    @Wayno….:Iggy does not exist(although i really love his dunking).

  • http://Www.lollercoasters.com Dr. West

    This is detrimental to Iggy’s development, although he’s definitely not suited to be “The Man”, he’s more than capable of being a 2nd banana.

  • slawson

    It seems a fitting way to end his career. I think he realizes this is probably the last stop on the train for him.

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    Woah wayno… bit of a steep indictment of AI’s retirement letter; ‘disgusting… publicity stunt’?!? The 6ers contract only arose because since then we’d lost another 3games and the only player who can cope consistently with more than 20+mins at 1 is out for a couple of months. It got so much publicity because, quite simply, it’s AI. If the woeful Knicks reject you, whilst the pathetic and hapless Nets and Minny act as if you do not even exist, on top of being shunned for a currently toothless PG in Conley at Grizz, all after the career AI has had you’d probably think retirement has been forced upon you as well. Give the guy a break, no doubt he hoped he thought somebody was going to read it and think “We need to sign him up”. However, wouldn’t you if you thought you had years of top class basketball left in you?

    Oh @Spanny can you give me a round up of this weeks Euroleague games and goings on? It enthralls me!

  • tavoris

    360vue, you’re right, but don’t even bother…

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    YES!!!

  • Teddy-the-Bear
  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Wait wait WHAT? AI returning is b@d for Iguodala? Are you guys joking or what? He finally has a playmaker who can set him up; all Dre has to do is work off the ball and Iverson will find him. He’s never been a great ballhandler, and Iverson relieves him of much of the playmaking duties.
    But wait, that’s going to stunt his growth? Wow. Because we all knew the Sixers were winning with Dre handling the ball a lot.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Teddy
    I think that the situation you described would be very bad for Iggy. He’s at hi best when he has the ball, even if that’s not what is always best for the team.

  • tavoris

    @Allenp-at least Iggy won’t have to worry about people harping on his inability to make his teammates better. He can go back to doing what he does best-playing D and finishing.

  • http://www.realcavsfans.com Anton

    Of course AI stunts Dre’s growth – you know Iverson is just gonna hog all the practice facility time.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    ^^^ LOL.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    It’s more a question if Iggy will want somebody else on the team to be top banana. It’s an honest question, I really don’t know if he’s the kind of guy who loves being the #1 option or is cool with some pressure being taken off of him. Well 360, if you didn’t know this already, AI REALLY loves attention, so I’m thinking that was a big fat “woe is me” publicity stunt. Like I said though, this seems to be the ideal situation for him right now. They’re still a 7 or 8 seed in the East unless Brand starts ballin again. Then we MIGHT get a 5 or 6 seed out of them

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I really think that Iggy is not a first option type of talent and would benefit from AI being on that team. That being said I don’t really think AI is a first option type of talent anymore though. He’s still good, just not first option good…maybe on that team I suppose.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Real convo I had yesterday with my co-worker(who is a huge Michael Jackson fan):

    Him:Man, A.I. is a punk for quiting on Memphis, I hope he never plays again. Dude is selfish.

    Me:Let’s say Michael Jackson was still kicking, and the Jackson family wanted to do a reunion tour, and MJ agreed to do it. You’d buy tickets for sure, Right?

    Him:For sure!

    Me:And lets say that you go and Michael does two songs and Tito headlines for the rest of the show! You’d be pissed, right? How do you think Memphis fans feel right now? Do you think MJ would do that sh!t?

    Him:Hell no.

    Me:Well that’s the equivelent of Allen Iverson backing up Michael Conley.

  • tavoris

    Thank you Brad…excellent comparison. Altho Conley is probably closer to Latoya than Tito.

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

    As for the Iggy debate: honestly, Thad Young needs to be more of a centerpiece than Iggy does. Hopefully, Eddie Jordan will open things up with AI on board and put Brand on the bench and start Thad at the 4 spot or have Brand at the 5. This is the only way I see the Sixers making the playoffs.

  • Hussman25

    @Brad… That was the best quote said on here all day… PERIOD!

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Must-seee teams on League Pass: LA, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philly.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Z
    I don’t watch Denver or Phoenix.
    I can already see how their movie ends. I watch the other teams though. Orlando is looking like a real threat to Boston in my opinion.

  • dude11

    Nobody ever said Conley is better than Iverson, because he obviously isn’t.
    Being the starter doesn’t automatically mean you’re better than your backup. You think Ginobili is the 6th best player on the Spurs? Is Keith Bogans better than him? Nope, that’s just balancing your player rotation.
    Not that hard to understand, is it?
    Mayo-Gay-Randolph take a LOT of shots. To play Gasol and Conley along with them makes perfect sense, and in the second unit, Iverson can play his game to keep the offense competitive.
    Too bad his ego…sorry, his HEART is too big for not starting. Right.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    PHX ain’t doing anything in the playoffs but it’s still entertaining basketball. Don’t sleep on Denver, they have a mean 8-man rotation. It’s a toss up right now in the East: Boston beat Cleveland, Cleveland beat Orlando, Orlando beat Boston. Inconclusive.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    @dude11……:Conley>>>>>>>>>>>>”bball Kournikova”.

  • Sparker

    just remember not to put the ball up when dalembert’s crashing the boards

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    @TAD I reckon Young will surpass Iggy in his career, but dude got ways to go before that. Iggy is the only other player I can think of alongside Lebron who consistently gets close to grabbing a tripdub every other game. Dude has gone 18/8/9 or similar in over half the games this season, if that all round performance doesn’t deserve to be relatively central to a teams plan then I don’t know what does. No doubt he shouldn’t be our primary scorer, his J is standard and a standard J isn’t going to light it up when you need that extra kick. AI solves that problem and I suspect Iggy will enjoy working off the ball more; he’s been willing to step up and do what’s been partly asked/partly expected of him over last couple of years but it’s obvious he shouldn’t be #1 scorer and he probably knows that. You ball? Coach gives you responsibility, you got confidence, you’ll do whatever is asked of. It’s probably a similar situation all though the transition from being ‘top dog’ to second fiddle is going to be instant, it will take time to adjust but Iggy droppin to #2 option should work well. Jordan just needs to figure out what to do with that team instead trying to get them to do his thing.

  • http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

    Ill say this though if somehow this situation gets f*cked up I might have to rethink my stance on iverson.

  • tavoris

    @dude11- Gasol is taking a lot of shots too. Actually, whenever he has a good game, Gay has a bad game.

  • Yesse

    This is great!I hope he is starting so he doesnt have to whine about it.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Dude are people seriosuly discounting hte fact that AI hadn’t played a single game with his team and that he was coming back from an injury? The coach said he’d COMPETE for a starting spot, but he didn’t even have a chance to do that because he was hurt. That makes the whole Michael Jackson comparison completely bogus! There were circumstances surrounding his limited PT, it wasn’t just for the heck of it. Why are all you idiots totally discounting this? Do you honestly think Conely was going to start for the entire season? I sure didn’t! Iverson is better than Conely and should have been starting EVENTUALLY, but after he got used to the team and what not.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Wayno
    I think you’re right about Memphis, for the record. Iverson was better than Conley, but he handled that whole situation incorrectly and was just completely unreasonable. Like Bryan, I hope he learned some sort of lesson.

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    I have a question. Does the contract say he’s only signed til Jan. 10? Is that the non-guaranteed part? So what happens after that? That’s roughly when Lou returns. Are they going to just refer back to Lou starting or keep him in the starting line up WITH lou? I’m confused about the Jan. 10 part.

  • Chazz Michael Michaels

    Ur So Stupid NIQ!

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    Wayno I don’t think anyone is discounting the fact that AI acted like a moody teenager in Memphis. Nonetheless, your dislike for the man doesn’t border on the line of hate, it borders, no in fact it doesn’t border, IT IS in the down right irrational category. AI’s attitude was wrong in Memphis but if you can’t even tolerate him for making a thoroughly human decision/error then I genuinely pity you, only a bit though because you’re not really worth it. Oh and one other thing; “There were circumstances surrounding his limited PT, it wasn’t just for the heck of it. Why are all you idiots totally discounting this?” You don’t stop to consider the circumstances that AI considered when leaving Grizz do you? Nah, let’s just slander the man without having a balanced picture of him, let’s make myself look like THE idiot for being unable or unwilling (which one?) to grasp the several sides of every story. Or do you just ‘discount’ what you wish and please? Keep it up, it’s almost amusing.

  • peter

    Best quote I’ve heard on this whole topic…”It’s gotta be a pretty damn good team if you have that many players better than allen iverson” – John Thompson

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    BREAKING NEWS: LINAS KLEIZA!!!!!! With our team facing another humiliation in France, Linas (who had 0 points at the moment) scored 19 in the last period(this is the equivalent of 25+ for the NBA) with 5 3-pointers and kept us alive in the battle for first place.!!!!!(Von Wafer didn’t play a single minute..). Papaloukas also had 14 assists(career high, 20+ for NBA) and Halperin had 22 with 4 3′s. Josh didn’t play(back in the states for his father funeral).GO OLYMPIAKOS!!!!!

  • str8 from samoa

    man i cant wait till his documentry comes out, its gonna be da baddest story in basketball history haha.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    and some game highlights (with none of Linas’ 3pointers,only some dunks from Bourousis…??!!)
    http://euroleague.infrontams.tv/index.php

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Dude, there wasn’t another side to the Memphis story 360, AI b*tched out, that’s it! I haven’t said anything irrational here, the dude clearly did this whole attention seeking retirment publicity stunt when he was still OBVIOUSLY going to take an offer if it came his way. Everyone and thier mom knew it. You’re just acting like a homer fanboy who can’t take it when people disagree with you. Pretty sure you’re the who who’s lookin like an idiot here mi amigo…

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED KIDS.

    “[ Q: ]For Sixers: Marketing move, basketball move, or desperation move?
    [ A: ]
    J.A. Adande, : 70% marketing, 20% basketball, 10% desperation.

    The Sixers are next to last in attendance, averaging 11,965 fans through eight home games. Basketball-wise, it’s not a step toward the gold trophy. He hasn’t won a playoff series since 2003.
    Marc Stein, : 100% marketing, 0% basketball, 100% desperation.

    I know the math doesn’t add up, but this is all about a team that’s 100 percent desperate to stay relevant and sell some tickets. The Sixers can say anything they want about needing guard help while Lou Williams’ busted jaw heals, but everybody in the league sees it: Miles away from title contention, Philly is making the business side its No. 1 priority.”

    Others had slightly different opinions but i choosed those that are closer to mine (!!!!).

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    There were definitely two sides to AI’s situation in Detroit, but that was hardly the case in Memphis. That whole deal was 99% AI and 1% management/coaching error there.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    It feels good to be able to say Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia Sixers.

  • http://Www.lollercoasters.com Dr. West

    I guess it’s not always sunny in Philly.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I actually agree with you there Pardeep, it seems like that’s where he has belonged the whole time. It’d be good to see him end his career there. Despite his whiny, obnoxious attitude, it’s good for the league to have him back in Philly.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    Is it wrong that, even though the coach lied to Iverson blatantly about his role in Detroit, I still am very disappointed about AI faking his injury and not playing another second for Detroit?
    I mean, Rip Hamilton was told he wasn’t going on the bench too and when the coach said, “rip, we benchin’ you,” dude went to the bench with little complaint and changed his entire game.
    Iverson refused to do that so much, dude pretended he hurt his back. I mean, this really annoys me.
    The Memphis situation was *$0%’d. but I mean, c’mon, why did Memphis even sign him? It’s like buying lighter fuel to paint your house then getting angry at the fuel for starting a fire.

  • http://slamonline.com Krishan

    I thought khalid was going to weigh in on this too? Waiting on that one.

  • Ricky G

    Michael NZ – where in NZ are you from? If you’re in wgtn do you play ball? Come ball up @ vic uni rec if you’re in wellington sometime. Chur

  • adbphilly

    the impact this 6 foot 34 year old veteran has on people all around the world. Jesus. look at all the comments in this article. 198, 199 comments including mine. People still have love for this 6 foot guard out of Georgetown, including myself. Can’t wait for monday night. He his legacy in the national basketball assosiation will always be as a sixer. no matter what.
    PERIOD.

  • J

    welcome back. hopefully for the good. eddie jordan now has the same situation he had in D.C., with 3 great scorers. i smell points.. lots of them.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
Advertisement