Has Anyone's Stock Fallen More Quickly in the NBA Than Allen Iverson's?

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I remember when Allen Iverson came into the league and everyone who owned a pair of Air Jordans all of the sudden wanted The Question, Iverson's first shoe and Reebok's most popular.

In a few short years some considered him the best player in the league at the time, especially highlighted by his MVP year. He was highly respected around the league for his toughness and his skill to score at will.

Fast forward to 2009 and this guy is a free agent yet no one wants him?

Forget the fact that his PPG has dropped nine points, and his FG percentage came back to the low 40's. A year ago, when you said that Allen Iverson would become a free agent this year, he'd be No. 1 on the list easily. But jeez, how can Anderson Varejao get a $50 mil deal for six years before Iverson even gets a call (maybe an exaggeration, but you know what I mean)?

To be honest, I don't think Iverson can get that kind of deal, I'm talking on a per year basis. 8.33 mil a year is what AV is going to get. Clearly at 34-years-old he won't get a six-year contract, but after the success of Denver and the failure of Detroit, I can't remember a superstar whose stock has fallen so rapidly. And him not wanting to play off the bench also hurts matters.

He's also in talks with Chicago, but no way he starts with D-Rose playing. I mean why would he even consider teams like Chicago and Memphis...wouldn't he want to win? Does he seriously think that those two teams will vie for a title before his career is through? I'll admit, I use to have so much respect for this guy but now...he's almost like a bum.

He'll still put up numbers, but I'd be surprise he if can put up more than 20 PPG and shoot 45 percent from the field next year. His heart just doesn't seem to be in it. He doesn't seem to understand that bench players can play starter minutes (just ask Manu and Jason Terry). I remember in high school one of our players was a starter, but played just 10 minutes a game...but he started nonetheless!

Has any other superstar in the NBA in recent memory had their stock fall so much?

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