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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  • MLK4Life

    I’d never put Stephon Marbury and AI in the same sentence. AI = Hall of Famer. Marbury = Once ate Vaseline. No comparison.

  • http://bleacherreport.com Lily

    I think he should be given the chance to play in the NBA again. Many of us (his fans) are still rooting for him and would like to see him win a ring. Besides the NBA would make lots of money from him being back.

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

    Make it happen!

  • http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/a-quick-guide-to-the-issues-of-the-nba-lockout/2011/10/11/gIQAon1ZbL_story.html unf*ckwitable

    Pfft cmon, AI is done, we all know it.

  • #1Celtics fan

    For what I will do respect, everyone who doesn’t want A.I. Is a sore loser and doesn’t know what basketball is all about. A.I. all the way!!! Biggest help they can get!!! He can sub in for Rondo :) . Because everyone wants to injure him because hes unstoppable!! Like that one time Wade injured him.. A.I. can sub him.. and he can be switching off with people.. he can play any position, except Center. (wary)

  • #1Celtics fan

    Only reason he left other teams is because he had trouble with life and because he had haters like you jumping on his back. So back off!!

  • ryan

    i hope he get at least a ring…damn i love that guy…

  • robb

    The Celtics need young talent, they don’t need experiments, especially if those experiments involve conflictive and washed out players.

  • the pope

    If A.I can still play then sign him. only to minimum and 1 year. If he is being a dickhead then waive him. Delonte would be a much better back up but he has been force to work at home depot so he might look for a bigger longer contract then the celtics will offer. So if they cant get delonte then sign A.I for min 1 year then cut him if he causes problems

  • #1Celtics fan

    Delonte is also having trouble in his life right now so I don’t think I would choose him over A.I. and even if he did have no trouble in his life… I think A.I. would be more of a Celtic… Everyone who went onto the Celtics will always stay loyal because that team is the only team I see that is like a real family. I’m pretty sure A.I. will feel good and will do really good. Self-Confidence!!!

  • #1Celtics fan

    :) :):):):):)Allen Iverson :) :):):):):)

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    MLK4Life
    What if you say: AI and Marbury played great in the 01 allstar game?

  • the pope

    @#1Celtis fan sure delonte has had trouble too, but i think your forgetting that this isnt mvp iverson. this is old iverson. delonte would be a much better backup combo guard but he might not put up the same points. he is younger and i believe will cuase less potential problems. if same ontract i would choose delonte over iverson

  • KBJ

    sign him up , thats good backup for rondo/west

  • naz

    People always bash stephon based on how his career ended and forget that the guy had good career avg in points and assists he`s also close to the 20 thousand point mark. The celtics even offered Stephon a contract extension and he declined.

  • http://averysmith.org Avery Smith

    Actually, I think AI should be the starting PG for the Thunder. Think about it. AI at point, move Russell Westbrook to his true SG position. KDtrey5 at SF, Serge at PF and Perk at C??? Maynor back up PG, Harden/ back up SG, Thabo back up SG/SF????

    C’mon son! Remember, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash are both antiquated Point Guards, and their teams still compete! Nash and the Suns were in the WCFinals in 2010 and Kidd and the Mavs went.all.the.way. in 2011.

    Seeing as though the Thunder went to the 2011 WCFinals without a quote/unquote true point guard I think the AI experiment would work well. I know AI isn’t a quote/unquote true point guard himself but the idea is to free up Westbrook to create without consequence, while keepng the defense on edge, knowing the Iverson is at PG.

    BOOK IT!!

  • tavoris

    I really wish Gary Moore would STFU. I’m just sayin…

  • Mooney10

    I am not sure if he still has the conditionning to play his style of game. I do not like him as a “mentor” to any young player. Remember this is a guy who has no respect for practice!! LOl. I can see KG killing him, if he acts up! I just don’t think Iverson can play unless he always has the ball in his hands. Interesting to think about though, still be nie to see him retire in the League and not out of it… If there ever is a League to go back to!

  • http://myspace.com/gametimeweezy Gametimeweezy

    Ivy backing up Rondo would be sick but the thing with him is he relied on quickness and guts his whole career, I just don’t know if he can keep up with the young, quicker guards now on the defensive end. If he wants to win now the Celtics is probably most compatible with similar Hall of Fame players, but they get it on D… his game NOW probably would translate best in a run and gun system like New York.

  • http://www.ontarget-graphics.com Sucak Free

    This is long over due. They could have really used him last year to backup Rondo. I am not sure why they got Shaq????? AI would be a good fit to backup Rondo and Ray Allen, but I would rather see him starting at the point in Miami so LBJ can get his first Chip!!!!!!!!!!

  • ALVIN

    ALLEN IVERSON. THE ANSWER TO THE LOCKOUT!!!

  • http://Www.nba.cOm 2Sikh

    The Knicks with AI is by far the best situation

  • B mack

    @ avery smith are you on crack A.I starting point guard do you watch basketball he is not a play maker maybe we should bring penny hardaway out of retirment or maybe dig up the corpus of allen huoston all you people on here talking A.I is instant offence and he can help a team please maybe a highscoll team y’all really need too stop dreaming he can’t cheack nobody in the league he done can’t score no more he should stay over seas and average under 10 points a game like he has.

  • capell

    That would be great!!!!!

  • Aidee333

    I hope he go’s to the Boston celctics that will be awsome a great place for a legend like ai to end his career he can play for at least 3 4 more years

  • EdLOmax23

    AI has nothing left to offer… Couldnt even put up 20 a game in Turkey… Could you imagine what todays batch of PG’s would do to him?? It would just be depressing.

  • http://zcl.neber@gmail.com neber

    I’m a China boy,i like iverson when i was 12.I think he can do better if he want!

  • GOAT

    Ahh you really had to put that link with the Perk trade on here huh? That was the worst desicion to make when you have a team your winning with now, and make a desicion in the middle of the season when your in 1st and have been playing your best ball to trade your startubg center a young one at that. I would say that was a rebuilding move but Perk is young and nowhere near his peak, he deserved to play out his career here because there are only a select few centers def not more than 5 that i would take over Kendrick Perkins.

  • GOAT

    just a really dumb move not to help us win, not a rebuilding move for a younger center with more overall skills and potential, nothing but a equally good player in Jeff Green who I love but we got nothing good as far as centers in Kristic who is ok sometimes. We now need a good center preferably a defensive minded one, so looks like we should trade for Perkins because he is exactlly what we need as a Celtic Fan. Lol funny how that works out huh Danny good job

  • DJ Premier is in Deep Concentration

    Iverson is the reason i love this sport soo much, send him to charlotte or jersey or NY, just dont send him to boston or miami or ill have no choice but to follow them, AI = best NBA player under 6ft

  • real ai fan

    I know allen can b a big key to any team. and if u dnt believe me stop hatin. readn these comments i saw 1 thing some gud 1s. ai to the bulls or knicks wud b gud cuz neither team has a gud enuff 2guard. but ai and rose wud b a great combo. rose cud learn so much from the future hall of famer. and they wud both b hard to stop they’re both nature scorer.

  • AviL

    Send AI to the HEAT. Cold you imagine the potential of D-Wade, Lebron, Chris Bosh and AI on the floor at the same time. As a defender I would be like DAMN. Who the hell do I guard? I’m a Heat fan and besides it being great to see all those stars on the floor at the same time, name a guard point guard in Miami right now you would trust with the ball over AI.

  • Dongo

    I think boston or new york knicks would be great also the bulls would do good with this fast firecracker in the mix…. Explosive!
    I love the layups and I miss the games when he fought off teams almost single handedly and much on of the 76′ers games on his shoulders!
    Iverson needs a fair break ya all.
    I would not bet against him.

  • C’s

    Would much rather see Delonte West getting minutes instead of a has-been ball hog.

  • Jay

    AI can only play for a contender where the other stars will keep him grounded. When he sees KG and Pierce WANTING to sit on the bench in 4th quarter blowouts then he’ll be okay. He still has some game. The highlights from this fall of him in pickup games was really fun to watch.

  • Freax

    Yeah please select Iverson !! Allen I. must be in NBA…:)) Now in Boston are KG,Pierce and A.I. thats cool

  • sam

    Haven’t we seen this before? Iverson coming off the bench for a point guard or a shooting guard and him getting pissed? I think it would be cool to see him make his what..third return to the NBA, but it wouldn’t work. In two years that team will be nothing but Rondo (if he’s not traded).

  • AIfanLYFE

    yes….send A.I to Boston….forget Chris Paul and his bad knees…AI can back up Rondo and Ray Allen better than Nate Robinson (thank God he is gone) and Delonte West (LBJ made him who he is)…I have been an AI fan all my life and I believe at this stage in his career, a ring is more important than his ego…..A.I deserves one like Pierce, Allen and KG did…Bring A.I to Boston Ainge…(oh and go get Tony Allen too…)

  • GriffD

    GO TO THE LAKERS!!! he would be a great compliment with the laker line-up He could actually be a starter too at pg D-Fish is getting krusty

  • http://deleted iversonwho

    great choice of team the tean needs a mid range scorer when the pd drives in the lane and if they decide to step up on him then ray or pierce will be wide open for a good shot instead of having to force just this rondo wants to play just like allen the only difference in there game is that allen ia a go to scorer but being the fact that he wants a ring he will do what it takes to get that and you will know you have someone comming off the bench that can score of create he is not a PG, he is not a SG, he is a creator always remeber that.

  • niceone

    AI is still the rawist player for 2011 @2012 some team gone pick him up watch and see he the truth

  • ramar

    lakers need him most d fish slaking but celtics would be a good choice

  • Kenny G

    The haters always have to say something about AI in guess what there just looking at the games get there ass out there in see what they can do before they hate on my big homeboy AI. Kenny G Philly fan of yours for life AI.

  • Jr. High Coach

    If the C’s don’t pick him up, he can play back up point on my squad.

  • Arron

    Sent Ai to the Lakers for the mid level exception

  • Matt

    YES! He’ll only command a non-guaranteed minimum contract, so what’s to lose for us? We could use the depth he brings! Come on Mr. Ainge, make it happen!!!

  • Lorenzo Hawkins

    i would love to see A.I get back in the league i really miss the fundamentals he has make it happen for him he deserves a second chance in the NBA

  • David moore jr.

    I would Love to see AI in Boston everybody derserves another chance i Say Go get him Boston he will be a good fit for the team i’m a die hard Celtics fan le’ts get him Danny and Doc.

  • Ace

    Go AI !! Go Boston!!

  • anonymous

    I would think new jersey would be giving AI a call right now because williams needs some help and they really only have 3 starters in deron, humphries, and lopez who are all currently injured. a few wins would go a long way in their efforts to get howard before the trade deadline and resigning williams after the season. nj is just not a good team. but they have the cap room to sign better players now, so why not do that?

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