Throwback Thursday: Allen Iverson “The Answer”

Allen Iverson recently had his Number 3 jersey retired by the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2014. Iverson was the number one overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the 76ers after a stellar two-year career at Georgetown University. The 96 NBA Draft may be the best draft in NBA history, top three at least that included two MVP’s Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, All-Stars Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Ben Wallace, Peja Stojakovic and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Iverson was named the Big East Rookie of the Year and was also a First-Team All-American at Georgetown. Iverson became the shortest number one pick in NBA history listed at 6’0 and Iverson went on to win the Rookie Challenge MVP (changed to Rookie/Sophomore game), 1996-97 NBA Rookie of the Year and made the 1996-97 All-Rookie First Team in his Rookie year. Iverson averaged 23. 5 points, 7.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals as a rookie. He ranked 7th in the NBA in scoring and steals.

Iverson went on to lead the 76ers to the playoffs during the 1998-99 season; his third year in the league and he led the NBA in scoring with 26.8 points a game. Iverson and the six seed 76ers upset the number three seed Orlando Magic 3-1 in the first round and lost to the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the conference semifinals. Iverson averaged a career-high 4.9 rebounds that season to go along with 4.6 assists and 2.3 steals. In the 1999-00 season Iverson averaged 28.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals and the 76ers made the playoffs and was eliminated by the Pacers again in the conference semifinals. Iverson made his first All-Star Game appearance in 2000 and was voted in by fans as a starter.

In the 2000-01 season which was Iverson best season, he was selected as a All-Star starter again, won his first All-Star Game MVP and Iverson was named the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player. Iverson led the league in scoring with 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and led the league with 2.5 steals a game. Iverson led the 76ers to their first NBA Finals since they won their last championship in 1983, the 76ers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Lakers team featured Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe and the Lakers went undefeated in the first three rounds of the playoffs. Iverson scored 48 points in game one of the Finals in 107-101 victory and the 76ers was the only team that handed the Lakers a playoff loss that season.

Iverson never made it to the NBA Finals again and won his last playoff series in the 2003 playoffs. After that win in the first round and loss in conference semifinals, Iverson never made it past the first round for the rest of his NBA career. Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in December of 2006 where he teamed up with rising star Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets made the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by San Antonio Spurs who went on to become the 2007 NBA Champions. The Nuggets made it to the playoffs again the next year and were swept in the first round by Lakers who went on to become Western Conference Champions.

Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons in November of 2008 and Iverson only played one season with the Pistons. In 2009, Iverson signed with the Memphis Grizzlies as a free agent, Iverson had his shortest NBA tenure with Memphis only playing in three games after his contract was terminated with a mutual agreement. Two weeks after that, Iverson returned to play for Philadelphia and left the 76ers for personal reasons in February 2010. Iverson also didn’t play in the All-Star game after being voted in. Iverson never returned to the NBA and officially announced his retirement from the NBA on October 30, 2013.

Allen Iverson definitely changed the culture of the NBA and started trends during his tenure in the NBA. Iverson made cornrows popular, he was the first player to wear the arm sleeve, him and Shaq made tattoos famous. Iverson should be one of the top five shooting guards in NBA history, in my opinion behind Michel Jordan, Kobe, and Jerry West. Iverson had heart, he gave 110% every night on the court and rarely missed games due to injury. He did take a lot of shots and his field goal % wasn’t always good but he could take over a game at any time by himself.

Iverson Reebok “The Question” shoes he wore his Rookie year made a big impact in the shoe game and some of his other signature shoes. Reebok is still releasing his shoes today and Iverson was the face of Reebok shoes that were cool to wear. Iverson made 10 straight All-Star Game appearances; on the All-NBA First Team and Second Team three times each; a Four-time NBA Scoring Champion and led the league in steals three times. Iverson was a icon that brought hip-hop to the NBA, and definitely will become a future Hall of Famer.

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