When there’s a question, there’s always an answer. For the city of Philadelphia, that answer came in the form of a 5’10, 165 pound guard from Virginia. His name was Allen Iverson and he held the entire city on his narrow shoulders while building an everlasting legacy.
The first overall selection in the 1996 NBA draft, Iverson was the epitome of a “bad-boy.” On-and-off the court Iverson made headlines – it’s fitting that he was the face of the city that is best known for its rough surroundings.
It didn’t take long for the NBA community to know that Iverson was going to be one of the greats. As his rookie season was coming to a close, the Philadelphia 76ers squared off with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. In front of a raucous crowd, Iverson knew it was his time to tell the world, “I’ve arrived.”
Iverson was at the top of the key with the ball when he heard a hoarse Phil Jackson yell, “Michael.” The greatest of all-time appeared and stood face-to-face with the young buck. Iverson relished the challenge and wasted little time giving the master a first-hand tutorial of the crossover – the move that made opponents buckle and even sometimes fall was his deadliest weapon.
Though Jordan was equally as great on the defensive end, Iverson took it to Jordan and successfully crossed up Jordan and made a falling jumper in his eye. The crowd in the old CoreStates Spectrum was lough enough that it shook the building. The 22-year old Iverson set the standard on that night for what was going to be a long and boisterous career.
Despite setting the bar to preposterous levels in his rookie season, Iverson continued to exceed expectations while leaving a footprint that could never be duplicated, especially in the city of Philadelphia.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
On this very day the Sixers will retire the jersey that flooded the streets during the early 2000s, the man that solely lifted a franchise in despair. Despite the fact that the Sixers will suffer a lopsided defeat at the hands of the reigning champs (Miami Heat), it seems fitting that Iverson’s greatness will become a permanent fixture in the Wells Fargo Center.
There is one man that will be in attendance that can thoroughly understand what Iverson endured during his days in Philadelphia. Lebron James shared a similar role while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During his ‘Cavs days James didn’t receive much help from his “supporting” cast and instead had to carry the load. He took the team to unimaginable levels but was not able to overcome the lack of talent that he was forced to run the floor with.
Now 28, James jettisoned Cleveland for Miami and success followed. He’s won two NBA championships and continues to take home the hardware racking up four MVP awards. Despite the comparisons to Jordan, James didn’t speak Jordan when asked who the greatest player was.
“I watch Jordan more than anybody for sure,” James said in ESPN The Magazine’s NBA Preview Issue. “But I’ll watch tapes of A.I., too. I don’t take anything from A.I.. Well, I do — his will. They say he was 6 feet, but A.I. was like 5-10½. Do we even want to say 160? 170 [pounds]? Do we even want to give him that much weight? And he played like a 6-8 2-guard. He was one of the greatest finishers we’ve ever seen. You could never question his heart. Ever. He gave it his all. A.I. was like my second-favorite player growing up, after MJ.”
While those comments were flattering, it was what followed that had the basketball world in shock.
“Pound-for-pound, probably the greatest player who ever played,” James said of Iverson.
Now you’ve heard it, not Magic, not Jordan, not Kobe and Not Shaq. The best player in the game said Iverson was the greatest player who ever played.
Obviously Jordan is the consensus but James grew up in Iverson’s prime and watched what the tiny frame did night-in and night-out. Iverson was forced to play with bench players while competing against some great teams. His core nucleus consisted of: Aaron Mckie, Eric Snow, Dikembe Mutombo, Tyone Hill, George Lynch, Matt Geiger and other “stars.”
You can’t help but wonder what could have been if Iverson demanded a trade in his prime or the Sixers decided to equip a star alongside him. The Georgetown product could have demanded a trade or opted out of his contract but he wanted to win for the city, he wanted to put the city of Philadelphia on the map. His will, as James referenced, was his biggest strength and what allowed the undersized guard to capture the hearts of Philadelphians.
The no. 3 jersey will hang in the rafters and those that now enter the Wells Fargo Center will forever remember what the undersized guard did for a city that so desperately needed a hero. Stepping over Tyronn Lue in the finals or crossing up Jordan, Iverson was what the franchise needed.
Despite his roots tying him to Virginia, tonight the city will embrace Iverson as its own and will forever be thankful for the years he gave the Sixers. There was never a doubt, never a question, that Allen Iverson was The Answer.
