Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  114 responses

Allen Iverson Wants to Play for the Boston Celtics


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Time and again since his NBA career was derailed, Allen Iverson has insisted to anyone willing to listen that he’d agree to play any role for any team in the L that wanted to take a chance on him.

But if he had his pick of teams, Iverson has a special preference for the Boston Celtics. According to Allen Iverson’s manager, Gary Moore, A.I. would “relish” the chance to play in Beantown.

Reports the Boston Globe:

Knowing that the Celtics will be seeking help, Iverson’s manager, Gary Moore, told the Globe his client would love to come to Boston. “I have already spoken to Allen about that and many other opportunities, and of course he would be interested in anywhere in the NBA but Boston is particularly attractive to him,” Moore said, “because of Danny Ainge, the organization, and one of the most respected coaches he knows in the business in Doc Rivers. “He has the utmost respect for Doc Rivers and the current roster of players. Allen would relish the opportunity to play in that organization.”

Iverson turned off many NBA executives by leaving the Grizzles because they used him as a bench player. He persuaded the 76ers that he was ready to return to form and contribute to a young team but he left the club because of personal issues and never returned. He hasn’t played in the NBA since February 2010, and even a brief stint with a Turkish team ended prematurely because of a calf injury. Moore said Iverson has regained his desire to play, resolved his personal problems, and will accept a bench role. “Allen has a lot of respect for the league and for the game and those who came before him,’’ Moore said. “But to get back into the league and to leave the way that he deserves to leave, that is very near and dear to him. It means the world to him.”

Allen Iverson in a Boston Celtics uniform — if nothing else — would be a fascinating basketball experiment.

The team has strong, veteran leadership on and off the court, and they could certainly use a scorer of Iverson’s caliber (assuming he has anything left in the tank.)

The Celtics’ front-office has also proven that they’re unafraid to take chances (unpopular ones, at that) with team personnel, so it wouldn’t exactly be shocking if they gave The Answer a serious look once the NBA gets back to business.

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  • anonnymous

    try it!

  • anonnymous

    let him play 2nd guard as long my dawg rondo doing his thing and stepping up to the plate

  • anonymous

    AI just needs to play with a good, tough nose guard in the backcourt and at the very leas a nice front court. I can see him fitting well on a few teams but it seems like his and dwill`s styles would compliment each other well. and dwill`s 6-3 frame is needed defensively. they can both pass and score: dwill is more passing-oriented while AI is more scoring-oriented. rondo and AI sounds nice too at least offensively. although I would be really concerned with the lack of size in the backcourt on defense if AI was to start with rondo. hope everything works out with AI, dwill, and rondo since dwill`s and rondo`s both seem to be struggling while AI is still on the outside looking in.

  • anynomous
  • anynomous

    however I found the comment at the end of article posted by one Marvin Clowney to be a little more interesting than the opinion of the writer since Marshall`s opinion is one of a broken record and still does not justify AI`s continued absence from the nba.

  • anynomous

    here is the comment posted by Marvin Clowney:
    Very Good Article. AI has obviously been black listed. Boston would rather tank there season than give AI a shot. IDK what they are thinking, but they do not even have a capable backup point guard or shooting guard to back up Rondo or Ray, and AI could do both. They can kid themselves if they want to, but in 12 seasons Dooling has never been better than slightly below average, at his peek starting in NJ he average 9 pts and 3 assist???? Avery Bradley just is not skilled enough to contribute on a contender. The Big 4 are still the Big 4 but it makes a Big difference bringing a guy like Nate off the bench vs. Dooling or Bradley.

    The same thing goes in MIA the only thing that will hold them back from a ring is no matter who they face Chalmers will always be a handy cap. Ty Lawson straight ran through him last night and it was just the same with JJ last year in the playoffs. any team can offset LBJ and D Wade by straight abusing Chalmers and forcing him to be the open guy all the time. It is obvious that both would rather loose than give AI a spot on the team. Sad thing for the Lebrons though because if they do not win LBJ’s legacy is tarnished and there fortune is in the hands of a below average Joe.

  • anynomous

    It`s time for AI to return. He just needs to be in the right situation. The nba is PREDICTABLE and BORING. I want to be entertained and excited about the game again.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiQQOFWfvvY&feature=channel_video_title

  • Derrick Hines

    allen iverson would be better for the knicks great for celtics dock rivers would be the perfect coach for him rondo could learn from him or vice versa

  • Derrick Hines

    dewight howard wouldn,t be good fit for lakers clippers yea but lakers no even the knicks would be better fit for him who,s making these trades clearly not watching the game and miami winning now that,s great their coming along with no help from the coach Pat R. should have fired him last year he knows nothong about coaching is any body watching the game true baller here.

  • Derrick Hines

    Dock Rivers come on giv my boy AI.a chance you still got ray,paul,kev,balling you could put a word in for the boy he would be the perfect player for you thinking of your names together as player and coach is truly magic

  • ttb

    we need him wit the lakers bad

  • http://slamonline.com the raskals

    give allen iverson a second chance to play in the nba…if kobe can do it why not iverson??they both drafted on the same year (1996 draft)..with ray allen and paul pierce…

  • d.roseisno.1

    “But to get back into the league and to leave the way that he deserves to leave, that is very near and dear to him. It means the world to him.” for the calliber of a player/legend like allen iverson he deserves to finish strong in no other league but the nba.

  • http://gmail.com S.M.G

    All You ppl thats saying that A.I should go to a diffrent team, juss STOP talking. A.I should come to boston and kill all the other teams

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