Allen Iverson Wants to Return to NBA..Who Will Give Him a Shot?
Your Black World Staff
According to a recent report, former NBA star Allen Iverson is looking to return to the NBA. Iverson, 36, most recently played ten games this past season for the Turkish club Besiktas, before his season was ended due to an injury to his right calf.
Although his last couple of seasons in the NBA were pretty average, especially by the high standards he set early in his career, Iverson is convinced he still has something to offer an NBA team. It’s hard to forget the Iverson who crossed up Jordan, or the Iverson who lit up the Lakers for 48 points in the 2001 NBA Finals. The question many NBA teams will ask themselves is does this 36-year-old version of AI have any of that left in him?
In addition, many teams may be scared away by concerns about Iverson’s attitude and his impact on team chemistry. Right or wrong, Iverson has developed the reputation of being selfish, and a “locker room cancer”. He hasn’t helped that perception over the years, with his infamous “we’re talkin’ about practice” rant, and for refusing to come off the bench while playing for the Pistons.
I think a player of Iverson’s caliber deserves at least one more shot. I know many may say that he’s already had plenty of chances, but some people mature later in life. Maybe, just maybe, the personal issues that AI has had to deal with, combined with being “exiled” to Turkey this past year, have made Iverson realize that he needs the NBA far more than the NBA needs him.
I am admittedly biased in that I have been an AI fan since his Georgetown days. There is no questioning his ability to play basketball. The main obstacle he’ll have to overcome is whether he’ll be a positive force in the locker room, and a good teammate, even if that means becoming a role player. I personally look forward to seeing AI on an NBA roster next season.
So you think AI should be given another chance ? Correct me if I am wrong. But did not Governor Wilder of Virginia give him a chance? The biggest chance in his life to to start his life over and fresh a new? What did he do? As soon as he saw fit. Against Coach John Thompson advise he could not be patience enough to graduate from one of the most prestige schools in America. Instead he chose to go into the NBA because his mama needed a house and a washing machine. That was his second chance given in life. Then when he got to the NBA what did he do? Instead of going by the Coach rule to wear a suit and look sharp like everybody else. Instead he wanted to go around looking like something that the cat drug in and wear ragged ass street clothes because he wanted to stay true to his “BOIYZ” back home who he grew up with because they were his true friends(not Governor Wilder or Coach John Thompson or Coach Larry Brown people who were looking out for him and wanted him to make something of his self) that was his third chance. Had he done what Coach Larry Brown asked of him. That Philadelphia team with AI leadership could have been more prepared to have met and beat the Los Angeles Lakers way before their Final Play Off and could have probably won at least two championships. But we will never know because he blew all the chances and opportunities to be somebody to be a contender to be the champ.
I am an Iverson fan, I would love to have him back on the NBA. He is a good player and deserves at least a shot. If he messes that up somehow that will be 100% on him.