By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Reports surfaced today that future Sixers Hall of Famer Allen Iverson intends to lace up the Reebok’s in the NBA next season.
“Allen is working out and he’s getting himself prepared to make his return,” Iverson’s personal manager/untrained flack Gary Moore is quoted as saying. “He absolutely will try and play next year.”
The last part of that is the key — “…try and play…”
There’s one major problem with Iverson’s intentions — nobody wants him. If that isn’t clear to Iverson and Moore, it’s about to become a giant piece of Swarovski they can place on top of the TV to look at during commercials on NBA games they’ll be watching next year.
Allen Iverson is pondering a return to the NBA next year. Will anyone give him a chance?
Look, I loved Iverson and appreciate everything he did for the City of Philadelphia. He gave me and countless other Sixers fans one of the best springs of our lives in 2001. We even agreed with the Sixers bringing AI back last season. They needed him to provide a spark when Lou Williams went down, and he needed them to resurrect his image after being shown the door by three teams in a little more than one calendar year.
Yet, AI did nothing to make teams want to sign him. And, it has nothing to do with his 13.8 points and four dimes per night, all major drops from his career numbers.
After basically being banned from Detroit’s locker room as the Pistons were fighting for their playoff lives because he didn’t want to come off the bench, he went all last summer practically begging for a chance to play. The Memphis Grizzlies gave him a shot, and then severed ties with the former All-Star after just three games for the same reason.
Iverson was staring retirement in the face before the Sixers desperately came calling. Hell, even the New York Knicks passed on Iverson.
AI’s return was something special and, likely, the last great moment Sixers fans and he will share. In fact, we’ll go out on a limb and say that will be his last great NBA moment, period.
After appearing in just 25 games, Iverson was finished as a Sixer due to personal problems. His daughter was very ill and nobody could figure out what was wrong with her. We’ll never question AI’s love for his family and he was where he needed to be. However, he also announced (or the Sixers announced) he was going to stay home for the year a day or two before his wife filed divorce papers.
The timing was questionable.
Iverson played just 28 games in 2009-2010 and saw his numbers drop to 13.8 points and 4.1 assists per night. Will he accept a role as a bench player for an NBA squad?
Then, Stephen A. Smith reported that AI’s close associates were very concerned for one of the top three little men in NBA history due to excessive gambling and drinking. It’s no secret, especially in Philly, that AI liked to party. Just ask Friday’s on City Line Ave., or the AC casinos.
And, that is all part of the problem. Iverson loves to party, but that — along with all the hits he’s taken driving the lane with the big men — have taken a toll on his body. Combine that with the negatives relating to gambling, and his outspoken nature when it comes to being a starter on a team and we just don’t know which team will sign him.
Remember, he sat all last summer before Memphis gave him a shot. He was ready to retire before the Sixers gave him a chance.
Who do you see stepping up to the plate for a declining 35-year old guard with AI’s baggage?
