When Allen Iverson stood next to NBA Commissioner David Stern during the NBA draft of 1996 and put on a Philadelphia 76ers jersey for the first time, everyone thought that he was a Godsend.
This former Hoya and No. 1 overall draft pick was the best thing to happen to Philly since the legendary Julius Erving graced the court.
The belief in Philadelphia was that Iverson would start and end his career there. But there was only one problem with this fairytale.
He was unhappy.
Iverson was and still is the kind of player to put his body on the line and play from his heart. He is every coach’s dream. He was a championship athlete being forced to play with a mediocre, struggling to finish the season at .500 kind of team.
Then, words that no basketball star wants to hear in the same sentence as their name started being thrown around.
People ranging from fans, to ESPN personalities were calling Iverson selfish and a “ball hog.”
As one of the few true Iverson fans left on the planet, my only defense to comments like that would be something along the lines of "he had no choice, because on that Sixers team, he had no one to play ball with, many players came and gone, but Iverson didn't mesh with any of them well enough with to make the team successful."
Trade rumors swirled around the press for a few years until December 19, 2006. On this day, a silence swept over the entire league, as Iverson’s wishes to be traded became a reality. Philadelphia made an agreement with the Denver Nuggets.
If you don’t remember, there was quite some drama leading up to this day.
Just two days before, the Nuggets and the New York Knicks took part in a brawl over a flagrant foul. The next day, David Stern suspended then league leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony for 15 games, and J.R. Smith (Denver’s second leading scorer) for 10 games.
Soon after, Denver welcomed Iverson into their home and hearts, who happened to be the league’s second-leading scorer at the time.
In return, Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two draft picks from the first round of the 2007 draft were shipped off to Philly. The Nuggets also received Ivan McFarlin in the transaction, who seldom played for the 76ers.
This, in my mind, is by far the best decision Iverson could have made regarding the future of his career. I could think of no one else to run the court with Iverson than Carmelo Anthony.
After being a Nugget for close to two seasons, Iverson has already grown into the team player we all knew he could be. He just needed the right environment, and that’s what he found in Denver.
During the 10 seasons that Iverson played as a Sixer, he averaged just 6.2 assists. In just under two seasons in Denver, he has already averaged 7.2 assists.
What still puzzles me is Iverson’s relationship with Sixers president, Billy King.
Shortly after Iverson went to Denver, King said, “First of all, I’d like to thank Allen Iverson for the last 11 years,” said King. “I think he gave us all some great excitement. I think he is one of the greatest ever to play the game.”
It’s funny how highly King thinks of Iverson because up until the Nuggets and Iverson went to Philadelphia to play the Sixers (the first time since the trade), King hasn’t spoken a word to Iverson. The Sixers won that day, 115-113.
According to an article on USAtoday.com from December 20, 2006, “It wasn’t easy for the 76ers to part with Iverson because of his popularity, his productivity, and his status as the face of the franchise. But after 10-plus often-tumultuous seasons, the 76ers were more than ready for a makeover.”
With the recent retirement announcement from Chris Webber, it got me thinking.
Iverson’s body is aging and he probably only has a few years left in the league before he crosses over for the last time.
I watched Iverson on TV when he played at Georgetown and I saw him grow as a player. I saw the creation of the cornrow phenomenon, and I saw the tattoos multiply. There is just one thing left for me to do.
I must see The Answer play in person, and my life will be complete.
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6 months ago
not a good article. the title has nothing to do with it. You left out the whole resurrection and getting his groove back part.
6 months ago
As a Nuggest fan, I have to say Iverson plays with a lot more heart than C. Anthony. Carmello Anthony never appears to be playing with any emotion. He always seems like he is giving 80% while Iverson is giving all 100% of what his body can dish out. I see him devoting spectacular effort trying to steal the ball or go after loose balls and put points on the board via any means necessary. Anthony always hogs the ball and takes ill-advised shots. I never see him with any sense of urgency on defense. Iverson is a stud. He is unselfish and still manages to put more points on the board than Anthony.
I constantly see Anthony smiling after just making a bad play. He is full of himself. It doesn't seem like he takes the game seriously. Iverson shows strong emotion when he makes a bad play, which is rarely. This Nuggets team is riding on the backs of Iverson and Camby. Iverson is the offensive leader but can also play some mean defense. Camby is the defensive leader and a mean one at that. He is the only guy with a sense of urgency to get rebounds. Kenyon Martin can also play some mean defense. I'm in shock that the Nuggets might not make the playoffs despite having two of the Top 5 leading scorers and the best defensive center in the NBA. I attribute much of that to Anthony's selfish and uninspired play.
from 6 months ago
wow ... thanks for the input!
6 months ago
I'm also a Nuggets fan and am glad that they're making a late playoff push. Hopefully they get in. Unfortunately they play no defense (except that great 2nd half against Dallas Thursday night). Camby is not a good defender. He's a great rebounder and shot blocker, but when it comes to 1 on 1 defense, he is terrible at covering another player, which is why Kenyon or Nene usually gets the assignment to guard someone like Duncan. AI does give 100% every night, but his shot selection still needs improvement. I'm hoping Denver gets in, but if they do, a 5th consecutive first round exit is likely.
6 months ago
Good article. Information on Iverson's scoring average and how high his numbers have been this season would've made it better, but nonetheless good article.
6 months ago
i left his scoring averages out on purpose ... cuz everyone always focuses on him scoring ... n that was basically the problem ... he involved into a team player.
6 months ago
well, i dont think iverson only has a few years left...11 years in he's still putting up big numbers. In 4 years, he'll still be the starting point somewhere...his speed with the ball is still nearly unparalleled, and he still will have tons of heart and creativity with the ball. Trust...In 96, when the best draft ever went down...A.I, Ray Allen, Marbury, Walker, Camby, Nash, Kobe...i was a huge Marbury fan which made A.I an enemy...At the end of the day, A.I willl go down in another category...right beside the likes of Isiah Thomas.
6 months ago
I'm a Sixers fan. I'm also just as big, if not a bigger, fan of A.I. But to say that he's "every coach's dream" is miles and miles from the truth. I love him. He's in my top 3 favorite players in the NBA and one of favorite athletes but..."every coach's dream" is hard to swallow.
from 6 months ago
im a huge iverson fan too, n nice pic ... the practice speech was great ... great show of his strong personality ... but i was talking about his heart, his skill ... leavin his personality totally out of this ... if you jus look at his skill level, his speed, his heart ... his determination ... thats a coach's dream.
6 months ago
First of all bad story it doesnt fit the title "how iverson got his grove back" think about every coach dream im a.i number 1 fan he its hard to be every coach dream because of every coach has a different style of playin tha game like for example A.I is 1 hell of a offense of player but his denfense could use some work not jus him Kobe, lebron, nash, mcgrady/etc. when u every coach dream u a hell of player offense and defense and hustle thats when u ervery coach dream
Carmelo Anthony is not tha best running buddy for a.i say if a.i would have got traded to cavs u would of said lebron is tha best runing buddy for a.i. In games when a.i is giving 110% and melo is giving 85 or 75% thats could be fault for some losses they could have won and wit melo he care about the stats what i mean by that is melo will shot tha ball jus to put up a 27 points a nite which is not bad but when he become an unselfish player is when the nuggets will make a deeep run in the playoff
u question his shot section ??????? if u question his shot section u gotta be disapointed in kobe's or lebron's because first of all when u tring to win tha game u down by 1 u dont take 37 foot three pionters tryin to make yourself look better(Kobe) u try to get a high percentage shot am i right? piont provin
from 6 months ago
if people keep thinkin the title dont fit ... someone freakin fix it for real for real ... this is ridiculous.
6 months ago
Steph I should've figured I would find an article about Iverson and G'Town based on our conversation about college basketball...Iverson is one of my favs too and you did a good job with the article...he's no better off to me in Denver because that team plays NO defense other than Marcus Camby and they will never win a title with that lineup...I wish Iverson could've been traded to Orlando with Dwight Howard...that would've been great...thanks for making yourself a fan of me Steph...lol I'll return the love
from 6 months ago
haha thanks buddy ... keep it real homie ... read my other articles too ... haha n im surprised you aint heard that im a HUGE iverson fan, haha usually me n woodson get in a fight about it ... lol ... but ill see you tomorrow bighead ... haha ill be a faithful fan lol.
6 months ago
What I can't seem to figure out about people is the fact that they get anal about the simplest things. The issue this time is the title. Quit focusing on the title and more on the article. If the info is good then let it go. Otherwise, get off your high horse and write something that is worth your crying and whining.
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