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Allen Iverson – last part of the interview
Does that responsibility make it easier for you to sleep at night or harder?
Harder. What makes it hard for me to sleep is when things are not going right – like when we lose a tough game or when I’m not the main focus in games when I think I should be. And that’s every game, especially down the stretch. Having the ball in my hand, that’s what’s so different about being in Detroit – or even when I was in Denver with ‘Melo. At the end of the game, the ball was in my hands. Mines or Melo’s. And there’s been times this year where I’ve had no control over having the ball in my hand.
In games this season with Detroit, you’ve been circling around the pick and the ball never comes to you.
Yeah, and it hurts. When I don’t have the control of the game like I had in the past, then … you know … But to hear about it bothers me, to hear about the trade bothers me. I want (Detroit President of Basketball Operations) Joe Dumars to look good for wanting to trade for me.
When the ball is not in your hands and you can’t do anything about it, does that make it easier or harder?
It’s hard because I want to help. It’s hard … it’s just different for me. I think one of the worst parts of it all is like when I know who I am and what I can do on the basketball court and then to hear that I lost a step or something like that.
Have you lost a step?
(Smiles) Watch the game. All you have to do is watch the game. Is hasn’t changed too much from last year to this year. Ain’t much change from last year to this year. As a matter of fact I’m healthier than I was last year.
Is there any chance that you played your last All-Star Game this year?
Last year they asked that question. And the year before they asked that question. And the year before they asked that question. And the year before they asked that same question. I’m 33 and next year I’ll be 34 and we’ll see where I’ll be next year. Whenever God says it’s time for me to go. Whenever I can’t do the things I’m used to doin’ on the basketball court, then it will be time. I’m not dumb. I know what’s going on. I play with the greatest athletes in the world. I know who I’m playing against night in and night out. And I know when I can do things and when I can’t. It will be easy for me to get out on the basketball court and play for 48 minutes and say, Man, I can’t do the things I used to do. I’m not gonna be naive. When I can’t get on the court and do what I usually do, then it’s time for me to go. I still do the same exact things that I did when I first got in the league. I might shoot as much (laughs). But I can still do them things.
For years you were criticized about never giving up the rock. And now you can’t even get the ball. How does that play on you?
Obama is the President now. Change! Change! Life changes, you know. It’s different. But believe me, I think in my heart that me being the focal point in the offense gives us the best opportunity to win. And I hope to finish up my career on a team where that is the case. If not, then it will be time for me to go. ‘Cause if I can’t play my style of basketball, then there’s no need for me to be playing because I can’t help the team that I am on if I can’t play the way that I play. It’s as simple as that. And people can take it however they want to take it. But that’s the truth, that’s the way that I feel. Honestly, back in the day, I felt like if I had made a comment like that then people would say that I was selfish, that I just wanted to score a bunch of points. But I feel like that’s how I can help a team. Obviously I’m not concerned about scoring a bunch of points. I’ve done all that, won scoring titles. I’m talking about doing the things to help a team win.
There have been times when you did not play in an entire quarter …
… I never sat out a whole quarter in my life, in my life, til this year. It’s never been seconds left and we’re down three and I have not been in the game. And that felt awful. Just awful.
