Allen Iverson: Family Issues Derailed NBA Career

I was mad as hell at AI for what he pulled in Memphis and Philly after both gave him a chance, but I personally believe that Turkey really humbled AI and I think he can make a roster and really show his last few flashes before his career is over.

 The only thing that derailed AI’s career was AI. He was living in a fantasy world and thought it was 2001 again. Players that accept secondary roles once they’re past their primes, have longer careers (i.e. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen). 

Oh it all makes sense now, his young daughter said he was too good to sit on the bench at Memphis. Got it.  I’ve loved this guy but he is only hurting his legacy if he comes back to the NBA.  I don’t care what he says, if any team gives him a chance he will want more playing time than he is going to get.

Honestly I keep reading and hearing that word…"legacy". It’s not like these guys are prophets, or gods. It’s not like all of Iverson’s "fans" are his children who he has to leave a legacy to. Allen Iverson is a basketball player who wants to play basketball. I don’t really think he cares about hurting his legacy. NBA athletes are extremely confident individuals to begin with so I’m sure Allen wouldnt even consider not playing on behalf of "hurting his legacy". I’m also pretty sure he wants to win a championship more than he’s ever wanted anything.

A.I.’s “legacy” is pretty much intact, even if he returns to NBA and stink it up, he will always be the greatest scorer and competitor at 6’0 and under, and that legacy will never change regardless of what he does with his career at this point on.

biggest little man I’ve seen in the NBA.

 Does anyone believe AI when he says this stuff? Could he play a reserve role? I’m sure he can still score against the typical NBA second unit. I do believe he will accept being a sixth man off the bench. However, what I don’t believe is that he will accept that at the end of the fourth quarter when the other team is playing its best five, that he has to sit on the bench or, if he is in the game because there is a good matchup, he isn’t allowed to hog the ball and go one on one. I don’t believe he has learned that. I think he will be pissed if he isn’t playt at the end of close games and I believe he will continue to use possessions as long as he is on the court. 

And I suspect that most GMs would agree with me and that is why you won’t see him on a contender. Could he make a difference? Sure, the skills are still there. Put AI on the Heat with an attitude adjustment and the Heat would have won the Championship (god knows AI couldn’t have been worse than Bibby). But that attitude adjustment just isn’t going to happen. Not as far as it needs to go. This is a guy who thought he was top three in the league when he wasn’t even still top 40. 

 I Dont know what his situation was in Philly..But he QUIT on Memphis….I only signed there becuz he felt they needed a star player..When he saw he wasnt going to be that guy,he left….

Playing & Living overseas can be a Challenge on you ,your family and your mental state of mind..But it can also be Rewarding,you learn so much about the culture..And some of the people over there have a different way of viewing and looking at life….

I think he should retire ,becuz he burned so many bridges and turned off alot of people..And the way he left the 76’ers & Memphis,didnt look good in the eyes of people who felt that was his last chance of playing in the nba again…There were many who warned them not to sign him in the 1st place..But they thought his talents would overcome his problems…

I Believe he can still help a team..But it must be a veteran laden team like the Lakers or Celtics..Guys with strong personalities..Both teams need backcourt scoring off the bench…

The Bulls and Hornets could use him..But i dont think those teams will be willing to mess up team chemistry, just for a guy that could walk away any time…

 Maybe he’s going broke and is trying to break back into basketball anyway he can, like poor Antoine Walker joining a D-League team… Sad. 

I’m agree with projectpat310 when he says al is the only cause of his own failure.

He should have choose to re invent himself as a dynamite scorer from the bench of a contender.

I don’t even believe Iverson could help a team at this point…

He’s never been a good defender due to his size, despite being great in the passing lanes. And now his body is beaten up and old… Then throw into the fact he’s been struggling with drinking problems the last few years. He’ll be an even worse defender now… I doubt his body could even hold up.

And his offensive game is built based on him being a go-to player, which he just won’t be anymore. Just no, no, no… He needs to stay retired.

The only teams I could see taking a chance with him are

Miami Heat- He wouldnt be asked to do much but can give them another scoring option. He could also play off the ball with LBJ or D-Wade. With Wade’s injury history and LBJ’s lack of a clutch gene. AI can be an insurance policy if Wade’s out or when LBJ puts on his magic show(get it he disappears)

New York Knicks- They lack an offensive presence off the bench. Shumpert will be a defensive slasher off the bench and Douglas just shoots 3’s. If AI is in any type of basketball shape hopefully he’s been working out he can be a JJ Barea type for the Knicks. The Mavs consistently went with Kidd and Barea in the back court or Kidd and Terry in the back court so i’m sure the if AI is healthy, in shape and focused they can go with Billups and Iverson at points with Mr. Big Shot guarding the 2 Guards 

I don’t think the Knicks should and will bring him in. As far as the Heat, that is possible, but not likely.

 i don’t think he’d bring anything more to the table, on the court, at this point in his career than Eddie House and who knows what kind of drama he’d bring off the court.  He’s a recovering alcoholic, and I feel he took the greatest league in the world for granted with his prima donna actions in 2009-2010.  He’s done as an NBA player. He should just accept it, make money overseas and not make excuses for his NBA demise.

Even with some role players inked up in Europe for the entire season, I think a team would rather sign an undrafted free agent rookie and pay him 400,000 knowing he is hungry and still has upside than sign AI for the veteran minimum which is over 1,000,000 and risk him quitting on you or having his gambling or substance abuse problems resurface during a critical time in your season.

I don’t know if AI’s issues are purely the role he was expected to play or whether he wanted to start or not but I cannot recall any top players saying to their team to go out and get AI for example like when the Heat signed Big Z perhaps on LeBron’s encouragement.

AI went and played abroad and was no doubt a huge fish in a big pond and could easily play abroad for as long as he wanted.

I’d love to see him back in the NBA but I do wonder does he need or actually really want to come back as I doubt he needs the money and would only surely look at a positon on a challenger to try and get that elusive title.

His best option could be to remain available whilst the lockout is ongoing as the shorter the season becomes the more chance of a team taking a chance on him or at least adding him to a roster nearer play off time when experience becomes a key.

I wouldn’t mind seeing him on a contender once we have a season. Miami, LA’s teams, Celtics, etc. All of those teams could use a backup PG; hell, he might even be able to win the starting job for the Heat. And as much as I hate the Heat, I’d live with the gay threesome winning a ring if AI got one too.