The Philadelphia 76ers honored Allen Iverson on April 12 with the unveiling of a new statue at the Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.
Iverson was selected first-overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the 76ers. Over the years the relationship between Iverson and the organization has been up and down. Iverson played 12 years in the City of Brotherly Love. One thing that cannot be questioned was the heart and determination Iverson brought to the court each and every time he stepped on it.
The 1996 NBA Draft is one of the most revered in NBA history. Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury led the talent laden draft. Sixers general manager Pat Croce saw something in Iverson that many didn’t. He could have easily taken Marbury, or Bryant, the number one player in the nation coming out of high school that year who happened to be from nearby Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. Croce decided to stick with the kid out of Georgetown whose troubled past made people skeptical about taking him. Iverson had famously done a stint behind bars for his involvement in a bowling alley brawl that saw individuals sustain serious injury. Selecting Iverson with the pick was considered a roll of the dice.
Iverson was a cultural icon for an entire generation. The braids, tattoos, jewelry and overall Hip-Hop swag was all that and a bag of chips. The product out of Newport News, Virginia was the face of the burgeoning hip hop era that spilled over into sports, basketball in particular. NBA Commissioner David Stern dealt with the NBA’s image as a drug infested league when he took over in the 1980’s. The image of the league was not good. Stern and his cohorts fought hard to change that image from antiestablishment to what was deemed acceptable from a corporate standpoint.
Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan didn’t ruffle feathers. Iverson was the exact opposite.
Iverson guided the 76ers to their one and only NBA Finals appearance since the glory days of Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks and Moses Malone in 2001. Philadelphia led the eastern conference with a 56-26 mark. The 76ers took on the Los Angeles Lakers led by Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal was in the midst of his prime and was virtually unstoppable. The Lakers were coming off of their first title since 1988 and were heavy set on winning back-to-back titles. On paper this was deemed one of the most lopsided finals series in league history. Iverson’s performance in game one is to this day considered one of the greatest in NBA Playoff history. He posted 48 points in an overtime upset of the Lakers on June 6, 2001, just minutes before his 26th birthday.
On March 12, 1997, The Chicago Bulls led by Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen traveled to Philadelphia to take on Iverson and the 76ers. Late in the second half Jordan switched out to defend Iverson on the perimeter in a much-anticipated matchup. The worst kept secret about Jordan was the fact that his weakness was defending small guards. Smaller guards always attacked Jordan, figuring the best way to slow him down was to at least tire him out. Sometimes it actually worked. Jordan took on the task of checking Iverson. Iverson served up Jordan a left to right cross that saw the Bulls legend bite and ultimately end up on SportsCenter, this time on the wrong end of the action. You can count on one hand how many times Jordan’s been embarrassed on the basketball court. This was certainly one of those occasions. The play was a culmination of what Iverson was about to become. A new era in the NBA was on the rise.
Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley and Hal Greer are names on a few of the statues Iverson’s will be joining. Philadelphia may not boast the championship hardwood such as the Bulls, Lakers or Celtics, but have a lineup of players that can match up competitively with any team in league history. Iverson is one of five 76ers to have been named league MVP. Joel Embiid, Moses Malone, Chamberlain and Erving were also named NBA MVP.
Iverson played most of his career listed at only 6’0, 165 lbs. The things he was able to do at such a small stature in a league full of giants is utterly remarkable. He won four scoring titles posting a career high 33.7 points per contest in 2006. If Iverson played in this era his numbers could possibly be even more gaudy as the less physical play would have likely benefited his slender frame.
Iverson often had altercations with his coaches, the most famous with the legendary Larry Brown. Brown and Iverson often clashed and sent verbal spats at one another through the media. However, over the years Iverson has praised Brown for his efforts as his coach. After winning the 2001 All-Star MVP, Iverson famously accepted the award side-by-side with Brown who’d earned the right to coach the East due to Philadelphia’s outstanding season. All is love between coach and player.
Despite the ups and downs, Iverson is remembered as one of the most exciting players in NBA history. The charisma he brought to the game was second to none. If you were to poll current NBA players on which former player was the most influential, Bryant and Iverson would toggle back-and-forth as first and second.
