Why Does Every Team Allen Iverson Touches Turn to Dust?

There are only a small number of players who enter the professional ranks of sports and completely change the face of their league.

The kind of players who transcend their counterparts and continually embody success and execution time after time.

Players such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Jerry Rice were always two steps ahead of everyone chasing them.

Allen Iverson is an enigma of a guard in the NBA. Never respected much as his talent would suggest, Iverson has been a bona fide star from the minute he stepped onto a basketball court.

Since the days he donned green and gold at Bethel High School, Iverson has dropped the jaws of everyone who watched his killer instinct and ankle-planting speed dismantle opponents.

At only a generous height of 6 feet, Iverson entered the mouths and teeth of defenses with no regard, developing a smooth game that included many moves at the basket that were virtually unstoppable.

His "killer cross-over" became a staple in basketball culture in the 90's and early 2000's, with Iverson embarrassing the likes of Michael Jordan and making his ankles look like rubber.

You would think all of this talent would churn out wins for whoever AI suits up for, wouldn't it?

For some reason, that hasn't been the case for Iverson.

Selected first overall in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Georgetown University by the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson's raw street-like refined game was ready to rip through the NBA.

Iverson hit the ground sprinting, literally, as he quickly built a reputation as the league's quickest player, and in a season of highlights ran his way to a 23.5 PPG scoring average and Rookie of the Year honors.

Unfortunately, the Sixers underachieved horribly, finishing with a 22-60 record.

The mere buzz and excitement of Iverson generated all kinds of revenue for the NBA and the Sixers, and filled the seats despite the team's performance.

In addition to losing basketball games, Iverson became a problem off of the court and may be known just as well for his infamous "practice" rant after missing and being late to numerous practices without good reason.

As Iverson matured, his team play rose and matured also, as the Sixers went from the cellar of the East to champions. Iverson began to pass the ball and make plays for his teammates, and it showed in the standings.

Suddenly the 76ers were no longer the Aints of basketball, and Iverson was the centerpiece of the Philly renaissance.

With this newfound success came expectation of a championship, and Iverson was locked in to give Philly just that.

After making the playoffs for the first time since the 1990-91 season in the strike-shortened season of 1998-99, Iverson and the Sixers beat Orlando 3-1 in the first round before being swept by the Indiana Pacers, 4-0.

With expectations high as ever for Iverson the next season, the Sixers again made the playoffs with a 49-33 record, and again were bounced in the second round by the same Indiana Pacer team.

In Iverson's most successful season to date, the 2000-01 year, the Sixers won 56 games, the first time they'd won 50 since 1990, and were the division champs. Entering the playoffs with targets on their backs, they used huge performances by Iverson to sneak into the NBA Finals.

Sadly for AI, he ran into a L.A Lakers dynasty in which Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant destroyed his Sixers in five games. Iverson gave his all, and that would be the last time to this date that he would taste the NBA Finals.

The next two seasons the Sixers would lose in the first and second rounds, respectively, and tension mounted between Iverson and the Sixers as he continued his off-court issues, and missed mandatory practices and events.

The injury bug also affected him, and after losing in the first round handily to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004-05 season and barely finishing over .500, the rumors were flying about him being traded in the next season.

Iverson was indeed dealt to the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 19, 2006, and it was expected that he, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby would make waves out West.

Those waves never happened.

Iverson feuded with coach George Karl about how to run an offense successfully, and Iverson and Anthony never seemed to pair well together. With an aging Camby and frugal group of role players, the Nuggets were ousted in the playoffs by the Spurs and Lakers 8-1 combined.

Again, Iverson delivered stellar offensive play to a team, but didn't get the wins behind it. With the argument that Iverson never had a good supporting cast looming still despite playing with Anthony, Iverson was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups.

This time he would be teamed with Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and young talent like Jason Maxiell.

So far it hasn't mattered, as the Pistons are currently 7-8 with Iverson in the lineup and aren't having the success they enjoyed in the recent past. It's early in the season, but with Cleveland red-hot, the Pistons must pick it up.

Instead of giving Iverson excuses for the guys who played around him, maybe it's time he looks in the mirror to figure out why his teams don't stay successful with him at the helm.

Iverson is indeed a Hall of Fame-level talent, but his defense leaves a lot to be desired as he just plays passing lanes but doesn't stay in front of his opponents. Nobody can question his intensity, but we can all question his sense of team.

After his 56-26 season in 2000, this is how his Sixers and Nuggets finished:

2001-02 Sixers- 43-39, Lost in first round

2002-03 Sixers- 48-34, Lost in second round

2003-04 Sixers- 33-49, Missed playoffs

2004-05 Sixers- 43-39, Lost first round

2005-06 Sixers- 38-44, Missed Playoffs

2006-07 Nuggets- 45-37, Lost first round

2007-08 Nuggets- 50-32, Lost first round

Iverson will always be remembered as a small man who consistently scored in a big man's game with heart, persistence and toughness with no regard for his body.

In the same breath, Iverson will be remembered as a somewhat troubled and selfish player who couldn't quite get over the championship hump.

"We talkin' about practice?!" Unfortunately Allen, we're talking about team and with that, legacy. That very attitude is why yours won't be cemented as it should.