Philadelphia 76ers Set to Honor Allen Iverson with Jersey Retirement Ceremony

The Philadelphia 76ers will honor NBA legend Allen Iverson on Saturday, March 1, by retiring his No. 3 jersey at halftime against the Washington Wizards.

“The Answer” spent the first 10 years of his NBA career in Philly, making seven All-Star games during that span. He led the Sixers to an NBA Finals appearance in 2000-01, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award that season by averaging a league-leading 31.1 points and 2.5 steals per game to accompany 4.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds.

Per the organization’s official Instagram account, “Sixers players will wear a special ‘Iverson Forever’ patch on their jersey and an Iverson #3 on their shooting shirts pregame.”

Philly fans, meanwhile, will get one of four giveaway prizes, per an NBA.com release:

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All fans in attendance will receive a voucher at all entrances to the Wells Fargo Center, which may be redeemed for one of four classic Iverson giveaways, given at random, at one of six stations on the main and mezzanine concourses. Giveaways include the Iverson Celebriduck, Iverson Gumby, “Alien” Iverson doll and Iverson bobblehead. Fans will receive one giveaway per voucher; no exchanges may be made.

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The release also said that all 11 of his All-Star jerseys will be on display, and there will be game-worn, autographed jerseys up for auction to benefit the SIXERS STRONG community outreach program.

Former teammate and shot-blocker extraordinaire Dikembe Mutombo said the following of “A.I.,” per the Sixers’ Twitter account.

That quote pretty much sums up what Iverson was all about as a player. He gave his heart and soul to the game on every single play, and often finds himself in conversations as the best “pound-for-pound” player in NBA history.

Miami Heat four-time MVP LeBron James said of Iverson in October, "Pound-for-pound, probably the greatest player who ever played," per ESPN's Tom Haberstroh.

At a listed height and weight of 6’0”, 165 pounds, he didn’t let stature get in the way of a phenomenal career.

Iverson won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award in 1996-97, was the NBA steals leader three times (2001-03), won four scoring titles (1999, 2001-02, 2005) and made the All-NBA First Team three times (1999, 2001, 2005).

The 38-year-old ranks 21st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.