Allen Iverson : After the NBA

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

Completely agree 23...I'd wager that's most people's issue rather than him being broke

[Jukeman]

Allen Iverson : After the NBA

I don't judge him for being broke

I do blame him for his career being shortened and not realizing that adults need to grow up.

It's not about being fake is about maturing. It's something he fought tooth and nail in the name of keeping it real and it left him with what? Being blacklisted and out of basketball for good.

Respecting talent is one thing but in the end character keeps you where gifts and talents take you. AI chose his path and while I hate to sit here and think what if on his career that's exactly where he ended it.

Galaxy Note 2

Lol you say that as if he was 28 and thrown out the league. Dude was 34 and injured (and dealing with family issues) when he left the Sixers and the NBA.

I never seen him coming back after that season as a realistic possibility especially after getting injured again in Turkey in 2010. Every contender had guards that can bring what he would have been bringing to the table at that point in time. He always said he will join a team if they really needed him. (Said the same about international league teams) He wasn't going to sign with a team like the Bobcats.

2 years later, people are still wondering why no one signed AI ignoring the fact that he's 36 and only played pickup CBL games at this point.

I think people can easily ignore the facts and base the outcome of his career on his character and lifestyle.

Lol I remember people in general making claim that he made up family issues (D Fishin) so he can leave Memphis because they wouldn't start him. Years later we are still hearing family issues. Not to mention when he locked his wife outside of their house naked during his Sixer days 😳

[23]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

We saw his ego and pride become a problem. I'm not even talking off the court stuff. I do believe everyone deserves a 2nd chance but when you blow opportunities in a place like the nba where you can be replaced you just can't jump back in anytime you want.

Galaxy Note 2

[24ct]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

Iverson had and probably still has terrible character issues. We all saw this. We all know this. It's hard to feel sad for someone who clearly pisses on opportunites other people would literally die to have. It's extreme to say die, but I don't think people understand what it takes to REALLY get to the NBA and stay there. Iverson was in a sense like Boobie Miles. Played off his talent until his age caught up with him. By that time it was too late for him to start 'practicing' like he should have been from day one.

Great player. Probably a great guy to his family. But none of that changes the fact you could clearly see he has character and maturity issues. Much like most of these marquee NBA players. Dwight Howard. LeBron James. Russell Westbrook.

They get pampered and passed along without being held as accountable as the 15 guy on the bench. Not just in the NBA. This happens for them on EVERY team. Granted some players are just good and get attention...some love that limelight. Some may not love it, but it's all they know (LeBron)

Not to mention the David Stern and AI feud. Nobody knows or understands what HE had to go through and felt with the scrunity he took for having 'braids and tattoos'...as if braids and tattoos determined his character. He cut his hair those same character issues were prevelant. He was just a great player with most of personal problems on the surface. That's what comes with being one of the stars of the show.

AI made a valid point on a radio interview. He sacrificed a lot to play in the NBA. He took a lot of BS for the way he looked and played. Years later, tattoos in the NBA (in America in general) have become a terrible trend. I actually have tattoos myself. They don't define me or my character. They just weren't 'trendy' when I started, but my point being guys like Jamal Crawford who had NONE, come into a season with BOTH arms covered. Guys like Paul George, Tristan Thompson...you name it...It's become the 'thing to do'...

[702]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

Let me ask something though..

We all can look at his issues of pride and ego or what have you, but without that immense pride and ego, is there ANYWAY he was the player he was? Takes a certain amount of that to play how he played, for better or worse. It was just a matter of time before it became his downfall.

[23]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

Yes maybe even a better team player at that .

It's one thing to have a nasty steak and confidence and another to let your deluded self worth take you out by ignoring reality no matter what

He was his own worse enemy. David Stern had nothing on allen iverson

Galaxy Note 2

[702]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

Well let me clarify that.

It's obvious he had a ton of natural talent. He could of been a great point guard if he had a different mindset.

What makes Iverson so impactful is how he played though. The recklessness, the will of it all. You knew even watching him then, there is definitely a "better" way to play basketball, but as a fan that was ok. When it was going for him it was just amazing.

People fell in love with Iverson because he was this small guy who made it feel like he was the biggest guy on the court. He played his *** off to the point an entire team signed up for the ride.

He could of been a more efficent/better player, but I really doubt there would be a 37 page thread about him if he was.

He needed those traits to be THAT player, and that's the player we love.

Ray Allen won't have a 37 page thread. McGrady's didn't/won't come close.

I'm rambling a bit, but thats how I see it.

[23]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

The number of pages on here at this site means nothing at all about how selfish this guy played. People lambasted him before we lost alot of our older members about his selfish chucking and low fg% games.

Larry Brown was not able to turn him around like he did Chauncey Billups, and sadly he carries a reputation from one watered down year in the NBA that was a Vince Carter jumpshot away from not even happening.

Ray Allen has been in a movie and has earned rings and a nice nickname along with a permanent spot on team Jordan, known as one of the classier guys in the league and wasn't involved in a bunch of off court drama. No doubt people aint flocking to that in this day and age.

McGrady won no rings but his own talent has been debated back and forth as nauseum, and frankly people don't care to argue about something that didn't happen, like him doing all kinds of crazy crap off the court and refusing to accept a lesser role because IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.


This thread isnt exactly a compliment to Allen Iverson or any other player that shouldn't be compared to some of the shamefulness he brought on himself from domestic abuse, fall of pride, going broke, lambasting practice and it goes on.

People loved to watch him play his heart out but he's not the only guy who stepped foot on the court to play his heart out either.

[702]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

All good points very true. I'm just overprojecting my own feelings I suppose.

I don't really care for the off the court stuff too much. Positive or negative I'm not one to worry about what players do away from the court. I get the point you're making about the length of thread/how much he's talked about though.

On the court I am well aware of his flaws. If I was trying to win a championship I'd of passed on him too. I just really really enjoyed his game. I liked the brashness on the court. I liked the endless confidence.

The attitude that allowed him to play that way was ultimately going to be his downfall was my main point. I may have overdone it with the "we loved him" stuff. How I personally feel though.

[23]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

I get your point totally buy I do think his attitude needed to be reeled in to maximize his career. He was a bit toxic to Melo hanging out with him drinking and all kinds of stuff late at night and telling teammates if I pass you the ball you better make it kinda stuff lol.

The only time off the court issues matter is when it affects things on the court ala micheal beasley or lamar odom or others I dont care to name not to start an argument.





Galaxy Note 2

[DukeC]

Re: Allen Iverson : After the NBA

I get your point totally buy I do think his attitude needed to be reeled in to maximize his career. He was a bit toxic to Melo hanging out with him drinking and all kinds of stuff late at night and telling teammates if I pass you the ball you better make it kinda stuff lol.

The only time off the court issues matter is when it affects things on the court ala micheal beasley or lamar odom or others I dont care to name not to start an argument.


Galaxy Note 2

LOL. Just. LOL. I would have liked to have been there when he said that ish

Not excusing his actions at all (though I find it hilarious because I've said those exact words (and had it directed towards me) before), but I'm sure we've seen Kobe do the same thing on more than one occasion. Or at the very least his body language indicated it

I will say though that to many Allen Iverson is just as much as an inspiration as Jordan is. Whose numbers do you see the best highschool and college kids wearing? 3 and 23.