Allen Iverson, 38, is officially set to retire from the NBA in the next few days. Iverson, an 11-time NBA All-Star, hasn’t played in the league since 2010.
Iverson recently indicated that he was trying to make an NBA comeback, but after he turned down a D-League offer, his dreams of playing in the NBA again were done. Iverson also turned down lucrative offers to play in China because he wanted to play in the NBA again.
In 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers used their first overall pick on Iverson, making him the shortest player (6’0) to ever to be picked number one overall. In his first 11 seasons with the 76ers, Iverson averaged 28 points and six assists. In 2001, Iverson was named NBA MVP and became the shortest and lightest player to ever win the award; at 6 feet, 165 pounds. Iverson also led the 76ers to the Finals in 2001, scoring 48 points in a Game One victory. Iverson would go on to score 23, 35, 35, 37 in games 2–5, all losing efforts.
After being traded from Philadelphia to Denver in 2006, Iverson and Carmelo Anthony were arguably the best duo in the NBA. Iverson averaged 24 points and seven assists per game while Anthony averaged 28 points and seven rebounds per game. The Nuggets made the playoffs, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. After two more seasons with the Nuggets where Iverson was very inconsistent, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups. Iverson was never able to produce at the rate at which he once did, and after one season with Detroit and Memphis (2008-2009), Iverson had his contracts terminated.
In 2009, Iverson returned to the 76ers averaged 13 points and four assists over 25 games. In February of 2010, Iverson left the 76ers indefinitely due to his daughter’s health issues. Iverson ended up not playing in the NBA ever again.
Over the course of his career, Iverson accumulated 24,368 points, 1983 steals, 5624 assists, and 3,394 rebounds. Iverson is no doubt an NBA Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best scorers of all-time. Even with his sarcasm, selfishness, and his ridiculous ego, NBA fans have learned to appreciate how Allen Iverson changed the game of basketball.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5JTh3Xp3Y
1 Comment
Doug
November 2, 2013 at 1:45 pmOther than Jordan and Rodman, I liked watching Iverson play….I’d rather have Iverson than Lebron. Let me hear what you think of today’s Bullz and Rose’s comeback. Everyone thinks he was a wimp to sit out last season but it looks like it was worth it inorder to return with all his speed and additional skillz, he seems to be playing with even more confidence too….what are your thoughts on that?