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Iverson Back to Philly?
Allen Iverson was convinced he would be offered a contract by the New York Knicks last week, and it certainly did sound as if the Knicks were seriously considering signing the 34-year old guard. When the team decided to pass on Iverson, news quickly broke that The Answer would announce his retirement. Iverson made it known how much he would like to play in Mike D’Antoni’s system. Don’t have to play any defense, shoot it whenever you want–yeah, of course Allen Iverson would love to play for a coach like that.
Then the Knicks fnally recalled the headaches caused by their former #3, Stephon Marbury. Remember him? He was still a Knick last year, though it seems like it was ages ago. After such an experience, why would you even consider bringing in a player like Iverson, whose reputation as a person isn’t much different than Marbury’s? I’m sure most Knicks fans are glad the organization chose to exercise their common sense for once.
When your name is Allen Iverson and your former coaches have to call around the league and beg teams to give you a chance to play because nobody wants you, that is when you probably start realizing it might be time to hang them up and make peace with reality. Worst of all, the reality is that Allen Iverson is the only one to blame for his situation. He could be the best bench player in the league, and potentially help a team to a championship, but his stupidity and ego apparently won’t allow him to think that way. While with the Grizzlies earlier in the season, Iverson was reported to have shouted from the back of the bus “I played for a dumb **** last year and I’m playing for one now!” Would you want something like that on your team?
Well, apparently the Philadelphia 76-ers are one team that is willing to at least think about it. Yes, the Sixers are seriously considering bringing back their former star, whom their traded away to the Nuggets in 2006. Why? First of all, guard Lou Williams is out for 2 months with a broken jaw. Secondly, the Sixers are averaging only 11,000 fans. Allen Iverson would undoubtedly fill the empty seats. Despite everything, Iverson is still loved by Philly fans and they would surely love to have him back.
Coach Eddie Jordan, as well as the management have already commented and confirmed the rumors. Jordan makes no secret of his admiration for Iverson. The Sixers are a boring team to watch right now, and who can blame fans for not wanting to pay hundreds of dollars to watch boring basketball? It’s one thing when you’re a Spurs fan, and you know that your team’s boring type of play could very well bring you a championship at the end of the year, just as it already has numerous times with Duncan and company. But when your team is boring to watch and losing, then it becomes a different story.
So why not? The more I think about it, the more sense it actually makes for the Sixers to sign Iverson. He is familiar with most of the players, he still has a lot left in the tank, and fans would flock to the arena just to watch Iverson play. The only question is if Iverson is willing to accept being a role player. It is Andre Iguodala’s team now, who played with Iverson when it was Iverson’s team. I am not sure if Iverson would be able to accept having to play second fiddle, so to speak, especially considering that it wasn’t that long ago when he played first, second and third in a Sixers uniform.
