Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 7:38 am  |  82 responses

Allen Iverson to China?

by Lang Whitaker | @langwhitaker

According to something called The Hoops Market, Allen Iverson might be heading to China to continue his career. The Hoops Market reports…

The 35-year-old guard is in talks with Foshan (the new name of Shaanxi) for the next season, according to sources from the Chinese team. Iverson, still a free agent after not signing a contract with any NBA team, would have a “strong desire” to play in the CBA.

So there’s that. No quotes on the record from anyone, least of all Allen Iverson, so probably worth taking this not just with a grain of salt but an entire shaker.

But just in case, for what it’s worth, according to Google Translate, the word practice is pronounced “Shíjiàn” in traditional Chinese.

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  • BostonBaller

    I loved AI’s game and think he can still play well in this L but AI probably thinks he is still an all star and should get all star playing time and money. I think that may be the biggest issue with him signing with an NBA team…then there are the other “reported” issues over the years.

  • hammer

    All I am saying is that AI was just being honest bout it. Cuz bottom line or break it down however u want 2,he said the truth. And I commend him 4 that. And that is a reason why AI is being blackballed n my mind. He doesn’t tag along like many of these hypocrite players and its ultimately costing him a job n the L

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Does anyone here think that AI might have talked to NBA teams privately this season and made sure it doesn’t leak, maybe he demanded certain things? more money? more playing time?

  • hammer

    @ pardeep. High unlikely n this day and age where everything somehow and eventually leaks out

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Co-sign Jukai about the NBA Cares thing. I mean, it’s still worth something even if it’s a PR stunt. I seriously h@te when people rag on celebrities for donating MILLIONS of dollars to charities because they’re just “doing it for attention.” Who gives a f*ck! People need that money and if it goes towards a good cause, kudos to them.

  • http://www.twitter.com/hurstysyd Hursty

    hammer- those guys you mentioned are all 33 or younger. AI is 35. He had a job at 33 too.

  • http://sdjkflf.com Jukai

    Hammer: Iverson would f*cking either cry or punch me in the mouth if I said his charity was a PR stunt. He’s being honest but he’s also being a hypocrite.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    I don’t think Iverson’s charity is a PR stunt man, if you look at the way this guy talks in interviews and stuff he always talks about GOD and how he tries doing the right things yes he does lie about accepting any role in interviews which he shouldn’t do but as far as the charity thing I think he does it for real,because we never hear of it either he doesn’t take cameras with him.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Here is everything Iverson said about his charity when he said NBA cares was fake(this is from an article)..

    “Fake,” said the 10-time all-star who plays for the Detroit Pistons.

    Iverson went on to say that he prefers the cameras not be around when he helps others less fortunate than him.

    “I just look forward to doing it. I don’t need all the publicity that comes with it. I don’t need that. When it’s time for me to get toward that gate, either He [is] gonna say, ‘Come in,’ or He [is] gonna say, ‘Turn around.’ And a camera won’t decide whether I get in or not.”

  • hushabomb

    The thoing is that he’s wanting a 2 guard role. And that’s fine if you need 1. Right now the only positions are for PG and he’s not not one. If he truly desires to play in the NBA, he’ll have to play the 1 spot and make a concerned effort to pass and distribute the ball! Only he can change. The Pacers, if they didn’t sign Collison, would be a good fit here

  • http://www.twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    Not the chinese food that I go out there and die for!

  • Izzy

    China? No.
    Phoenix? Yes.
    Bring him to the Suns bench as back-up SG behind J-Rich. Phoenix is lacking little guys that can score. Which is a perfect position to play in the style of offense they play. This guy was a 2 time scoring champ so I say why not. They’ve just signed a heap of lukewarm forwards in an attempt to replace STAT but I think AI could work in the Phx guards department – currently consisting of only Nash, Dragic (both true-type PGs) & J-Rich.
    NBA, where is the love for AI???

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    I hope this doesn’t happen.

  • http://www.twitter.com/jtrain73 Jono

    Seeing the way he is, he should go. His legacy as one of the all-time greats is secured in the NBA. Eating crap leftover in whatever NBA team he’ll sign for will result in him sulking and tarnishing his image again. Just go to AI, they’ll love and embrace you like no other. Trust me. Earn some dough, experience a new culture, be treated the way you want to, build your brand and practice whenever you feel like.

  • http://sdjkflf.com Jukai

    I do NOT want AI on Phoenix.
    We have Nash, the best on-ball point guard next to Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the LEAGUE. Then we have Dragic, who is as pure of a point as they come.
    Now we have to let Turkoglu control the ball just so dude can score.
    No way do we need AI f’ing using the ball too. No damn way.

  • http://www.google.com The Big Fundamental

    He really needs to swallow his pride and accept the fact he wont be a starter in the L

  • Yesse

    Is CBA like the next huge league coming after NBA? Stephon and now Allen. Whos next?

  • rikson

    “He really needs to swallow his pride and accept the fact he wont be a starter in the L” -> So true! But kind of sad too – I mean buddy is 35 years!!! Time to grow up…

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

    Izzy – PHX need little guys that can score the ball…. probably in much the same way Golden State do…? PHX does not need nor want A.I.

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

    Yesse – Shaq will head there in about 2 yrs as the first team owner/coach/sixthman, Anderson Varejao owns a CBA petting zoo outside Foshan and I think Gilbert Arenas needed somewhere to store his tanks this off season…

  • CONEY ISLANDER

    THAT MAN IS AN ICON OF THE SPORT. HE REPPED FOR THAT WHOLE POST MJ GENERATION AND TO SEE HIM GET TREATED LIKE A LEPPER BOTHERS ME.

  • markymark

    can we all pray that david stern suffers a fatal stroke in the not so near future? admit it or not, he’s the guy (devil) behind all this.

  • http://theurbangriot.com The Nupe

    Maybe a year in China will prove to NBA teams he still has something left in the tank and that he is a more humble player. I really like AI and would love to see him in the NBA, but I also think this is largely his own fault. Teams aren’t wanting to take a big risk on him because of his lockerroom atitude/behaviour. When you’re still a superstar maybe you can get away with a lot more, but now that he’s no longer the elite player he was, he needs to modify how he acts. Yes he’s still got something in the tank, but the extra BS that MAY come along with it is something I understand teams wanting to avoid.

  • The Philosopher

    He’s bad for business.
    Period.

  • jayfromdachi

    DAT SUX!!! AI can still compete in da NBA!!! lets keep him here!!!!

  • Hussman25

    He’s done… period

  • markymark

    how easily people forget…

    @jukai – your suns are dead like michael jackson. welcome to a lottery-filled decade

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    I hope SLAM does a EPIC cover with AI in his China jersey…..It would sell like crazy…. It is sad that it has to end this way but AI may just have a cultural impact in China like he did in the US.

  • Izzy

    Just saying…Phx need a decent back-up 2 guard. @Jukai – I totally agree that Nash & Dragic have the PG under conrol. Dragic is pure point but not a particuarly consistent scorer. I’m biased cos I like Iverson but I am aware of his downside…still i think someone of his ability wouldn’t hurt the Suns (who aren’t dead at all by the way – lottery bound with Nash at the helm? Dude please).

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    NO the PHX thing wouldn’t work Nash is bad enough on D this back court of AI and Nash would get destroyed and it wouldn’t matter how much they dominate on offense. Even at the peaks of their careers a Nash, Iverson back court would not work.

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    A.I.’s got plenty left, but he won’t come off the bench. It’s an attitude problem, not a talent problem. Last year, he was a bust in Memphis and a bust in Philly. Guess the only place left where they’ll let him start and be a star is China. He should team up with Starbury and re-create the 2004 bronze-medal winning Team USA starting backcourt. Btw, Frank’s post was Iverson’s practice rant translated into Chinese pinyin.

  • Izzy

    @Pardeep…Point taken. Its aaaalways about the D. Aren’t Phoenix’s new acquisitions in Turkoglu, Childress and Warrick a viable attempt to beef up the frontcourt & overall defensiveness of the team? Or only “sounds good on paper”. I still think we need a scoring guard…Jukai? Dacre?

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